link to Akil Stokes Playbook & Strategy: How He Actually Trades

 Etienne Crete - Desire To TRADE165K subscribers [Watch on](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJwWlAxLn54) [BEST BROKERS REVIEWS](https://www.forex.in.rs/go/best-brokers) In this blog post, you’ll dive into Akil’s approach to trading, where he emphasizes the importance of discipline, the process over outcome, and the value of manual backtesting. You’ll learn how Akil manages risk, his trading strategies using advanced patterns like Gartley and Butterfly, and his insights on the psychological side of trading. By the end, you’ll gain actionable takeaways that you can incorporate into your own trading routine, especially around building a solid strategy and handling the inevitable drawdowns that come with trading.  ## Akil Stokes Playbook & Strategy: How He Actually Trades ## Trading Philosophy: Process Over Outcome Akil emphasizes the importance of focusing on the process rather than obsessing over individual trade outcomes. He believes that the key to success is sticking to a well-defined plan, regardless of the short-term results. - **Trust Your Plan**: Stick to your trading plan no matter what. If you’ve backtested it and it shows positive expectancy, trust that the process will work over time, even if you face losing streaks. - **Trade with Consistency**: Avoid jumping from strategy to strategy. Be consistent with your approach and give it enough time to show results. - **Accept Losses as Part of the Game**: Don’t let a loss throw you off track. It’s part of trading. Focus on executing your plan correctly and move on to the next trade. This mindset is essential because it helps you avoid making emotional decisions in the heat of the moment, keeping your trading calm and disciplined. ## Strategy: Advanced Patterns and Price Action Akil uses a blend of advanced chart patterns and price action to identify high-probability trade setups. He relies heavily on patterns like the Gartley, Bat, and Butterfly, combined with strong support and resistance levels. - **Focus on Advanced Patterns**: Use chart patterns like Gartley, Bat, and Butterfly to identify potential reversal points. These patterns have proven to give reliable setups when combined with other technical analysis tools. - **Support and Resistance**: Pay attention to key support and resistance levels. These are crucial for determining entry and exit points, as well as setting stop-loss orders. - **Use Multiple Timeframes**: Akil recommends using higher timeframes (4-hour, daily) for overall trend direction and lower timeframes (15-minute, 5-minute) for precise entries. By combining these techniques, Akil is able to increase his chances of success by aligning his trades with the market’s natural rhythm. ## Risk Management: How Much to Risk Per Trade Akil believes that managing risk is one of the most important aspects of trading. He stresses the importance of knowing exactly how much you’re willing to lose before entering a trade and never straying from that plan. - **Risk 1-2% Per Trade**: Akil advises risking only 1-2% of your trading capital per trade. This ensures you don’t blow up your account if a string of losses occurs. - **Set Stop-Loss Orders**: Always use stop-loss orders to limit your risk. These should be placed at logical levels, based on technical analysis (like the edge of a chart pattern or key support/resistance). - **Reward-to-Risk Ratio**: Aim for a reward-to-risk ratio of at least 2:1. This means that for every dollar you risk, your potential reward should be at least two dollars. By sticking to these rules, Akil ensures that no single trade can ruin his account, even during extended periods of drawdown. ## Trading Schedule: Balancing Life and Trading Akil is a big believer in balancing trading with other life activities to avoid burnout. He doesn’t sit in front of his screen all day, and he makes time to step away from the markets, ensuring that he maintains a healthy mindset. [Manage $300 000 Account. Earn as trader!](https://www.forex.in.rs/funded/elite-funded) - **Trade Only During Optimal Hours**: Akil trades the New York session, typically from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., when market volatility is high. This allows him to focus on quality setups without being glued to the screen all day. - **Take Breaks**: Akil encourages traders to step away from their computers once they’ve completed their trading for the day. Engaging in other activities, like his coaching role in track and field, helps him refresh and keep a clear head. - **Avoid Overtrading**: Don’t sit in front of your screen waiting for trades to happen. Only take trades when your strategy dictates it. Overtrading leads to mistakes and emotional trading. By having a clear schedule and setting boundaries, Akil avoids making impulsive decisions and maintains the focus needed for long-term success. [Visit ActivTrades](https://www.forex.in.rs/go/activ-promo) ## Psychological Resilience: Dealing with Drawdowns Trading isn’t all about strategy—it’s also about how you handle the psychological challenges that come with it. Akil’s journey involved overcoming significant setbacks, and he shares key lessons on how to stay mentally strong during tough times. - **Don’t Let Drawdowns Derail You**: Losses are part of trading. Akil stresses that many traders fail because they give up after a few losses. Stick to your strategy even when things aren’t going your way. - **Focus on Continuous Improvement**: Akil follows the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement. Every day, aim to get better, whether it’s refining your strategy, improving your trade execution, or strengthening your mindset. - **Separate Ego from Trading**: Don’t let your ego dictate your trading decisions. If you lose a trade, don’t beat yourself up. Stay objective and focus on executing your plan in the next trade. By working on your psychological resilience, you’ll be better equipped to handle the inevitable ups and downs of trading without letting them affect your decision-making. ## Education and Mentorship: Helping Others One of Akil’s main focuses today is teaching other traders, and he often shares that the process of educating others has helped him solidify his own understanding of trading. [TRADINGVIEW PRO AD-FREE CHARTS](https://www.forex.in.rs/banner/tradingview-pro) - **Learn by Teaching**: Teaching others is a powerful way to deepen your own knowledge. Akil’s journey into education began when he started blogging about his own struggles as a trader, and it evolved into a full-time career in trading education. - **Find a Mentor**: Akil highlights the importance of mentorship in his own development. He credits his progress to learning from others who were more experienced. Finding someone to guide you can accelerate your learning curve. - **Share Your Journey**: Don’t be afraid to share both your successes and failures with others. Being transparent can help you connect with a community of traders who will support you and help you grow. ## Embrace the Process: Why Focusing on Execution Beats Chasing Outcomes In Akil Stokes’ approach to trading, one of the key principles he emphasizes is focusing on the process rather than obsessing over the results of each trade. Akil believes that successful trading isn’t about hitting home runs with every trade, but about executing consistently and following a proven strategy. The outcome of any single trade is out of your control, but the way you approach each opportunity—based on your strategy and plan—is what truly matters. Akil’s experience has shown that traders who chase quick profits or become fixated on individual trade results are more likely to make emotional decisions and deviate from their systems, leading to mistakes and losses. Akil’s advice to traders is simple: