# Henry Akins

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## Overview

**Name:** Henry Akins


## Bio

Henry Akins traded Oklahoma for California in the mid-1990s after watching a Rickson Gracie vale-tudo tape, landing first at Rorion’s Torrance academy before tracking down Rickson’s Pico Boulevard school. There he became gym secretary, logged 70-hour weeks, and befriended assistant coach Luis Herédia, eventually serving as Herédia’s assistant in Pacific Palisades and later instructing at Rickson’s Wilshire location. Rickson awarded Akins his black belt in 2004, making him the third American black belt under Rickson, and Akins later ran the Rickson Gracie academy until a severe injury forced him out in 2008. He resurfaced as head coach of Dynamix Martial Arts, an MMA hub in Los Angeles, and is known for his tight side control escapes and closed guard concepts rooted in the Rickson lineage.
## Specialties

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**Last Updated:** September 23, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/henry-akins)