Table of Contents
Akil Stokes is a professional trader and coach known for straight-talking lessons on price action and process. In this interview, Akil breaks down how he’s evolved since 2007—from managing money to teaching traders—while keeping a simple, robust edge rooted in support/resistance and clean chart reading. You’ll hear why the 24-hour forex market fits his lifestyle, how coaching since 2012 sharpened his discipline, and why he still favors technicals while respecting how fundamentals can whip markets.
In this piece, you’ll learn Akil’s core strategy pillars—reading candles like a story, trading advanced patterns on “autopilot,” and building a diversified playbook that works in both trending and consolidating markets. We’ll cover how he adapts to changing volatility, why backtesting and daily chart reps shorten the learning curve, the psychology traps that sabotage results, and how relative volume can complement price action in forex. Expect practical rules you can use today, plus a mindset framework to help you improve quarter after quarter.
Akil Stokes Playbook & Strategy: How He Actually Trades
Core Philosophy: Price Action First
Akil Stokes builds every decision off a clean structure. He keeps indicators light, reads candlesticks like a story, and lets levels do the heavy lifting. The goal is simple: find asymmetric trades where risk is capped by structure and reward is planned in advance.
- Mark swing highs/lows and the most recent impulse leg before you add anything else.
- Only trade in the direction of the most recent higher-timeframe break of structure.
- If the price is between major levels (no clear edge), do nothing until a level is tested.
- Treat indicators as confirmation only (never a primary signal).
- If you can’t explain the setup in two sentences, skip it.
Market Selection & Session Timing
He favors liquid, 24-hour markets where structure is respected and spreads are tight—forex pairs and major indices are his bread and butter. Sessions matter because volatility cycles create your edge window.
- Focus on 4–8 instruments you know well; drop anything with erratic spread/behavior.
- Prioritize London and London-New York overlap for forex; avoid your personal “noisy” hours.
- Maintain a “do-not-trade” list during major news windows if spreads or whipsaws spike.
- If ADR (average daily range) is below your minimum threshold, reduce targets or pass.
The Top-Down Process (Weekly → Daily → 4H/1H)
Akil’s advantage starts before the trade: align the big picture, then drill down. Top-down keeps you from forcing countertrend trades and clarifies where the best risk-to-reward lives.
- Weekly: define trend and mark the two nearest key zones (supply/demand or S/R).
- Daily: refine zones, note trend maturity (early, mid, late), and volatility regime.
- 4H/1H: hunt entries only when the price is reacting at a pre-marked zone.
- If a lower timeframe conflicts with a higher timeframe structure, the higher timeframe wins.
- No zone → no trade plan. Draw the level first, or stand down.
Setup Menu: Structure Break & Retest
This is Akil’s “bread and butter” trend-continuation idea: break, pull back, continue. It’s simple, repeatable, and easy to journal.
- Confirmation: clean close beyond structure (not just a wick); then wait for the retest.
- Entry: limit at the retest zone or a single engulfing/counter-rejection bar.
- Invalidation: hard stop just beyond the opposite side of the broken level.
- Targets: T1 at prior swing extreme; T2 at 1.5–2R or next HTF level.
- If price never retests within two candles (your rule), skip the trade—no chasing.
Setup Menu: Advanced Harmonic Pattern (Gartley/Bat/Cypher)
Akil likes patterns because they force rules and reduce prediction. They work best in corrective environments, offering structure-defined risk with logical targets.
- Pre-conditions: a trending market that’s pulling back OR a well-defined range.
- Ratios: require your exact fib rules (e.g., for a Bat, B at 38.2–50, D near 88.6). No rule → no trade.
- Entry: at completion zone with clear rejection; aggressive entries need a smaller size.
- Stops: just beyond X or the PRZ buffer you’ve backtested (e.g., PRZ + 0.25×ATR).
- Targets: T1 at 38.2 retrace of AD; T2 at 61.8; optional runner to structure.
Setup Menu: Consolidation Fake-Out & Reversal
When markets compress, the first break often traps traders. Akil exploits that trap by defining the range and letting liquidity grabs reveal the reversal.
- Identify a multi-touch box; mark the “most obvious” breakout direction.
- Wait for a false break (close back inside the box within N bars).
- Enter against the fake-out on the first pullback inside the range.
- Stop goes beyond the fake-out wick; target the opposite side of the box (T1) and 1.5–2R (T2).
- No close back inside the box → no reversal trade.
Risk Management & Position Sizing
Edge dies without sizing. Akil standardizes risk so a bad day is survivable and a good month compounds.
- Fixed fractional risk per trade (e.g., 0.5–1.0%); never exceed your weekly max risk cap.
- Use ATR or structural distance to position size; do not widen stops to fit size.
- Hard daily stop (e.g., 2R or two losses) and a weekly drawdown circuit-breaker (e.g., −5R).
- Reduce risk by 50% after three consecutive losses; restore after two winners and review.
Entries, Stops, and Targets (Execution Rules)
Consistency beats brilliance. Akil scripts entries and exits so the plan—not emotion—runs the show.
- One entry trigger per setup (e.g., limit at retest OR single engulfing candle). Never both.
- Stop always beyond structure (wicks included) or a fixed ATR multiple (e.g., 1.2×ATR).
- Pre-define T1/T2. Move stop to breakeven at T1 only if your stats support it.
- If slippage or spread blows out beyond your tolerance, cancel the order.
- No mid-trade “idea changes.” If conditions change, exit per plan, then reframe.
Trade Management & Scaling
Managing the middle is where many traders bleed edge. Akil keeps it mechanized to avoid tinkering.
- Partial at T1 (e.g., 50% off); tighten stop to structure or breakeven only if data says it improves expectancy.
- Never add to a losing position; scale in only on planned pullbacks within a valid trend.
- Time-stop rule: if price stalls for N bars and ATR collapses, exit at market.
- Max bars in trade rule (e.g., 20 bars on entry timeframe) to free up capital.
News & Volatility Controls
Volatility can be a friend if your rules account for it. Akil adapts risk and targets to the regime, not the headline.
- During high-impact events: trade only if spreads remain inside your max threshold; otherwise, flat.
- If ATR > 1.5× 20-period baseline, cut size by 30–50% or widen stops with a smaller size.
- If ATR < 0.7× baseline, tighten targets or skip continuation trades; favor range setups.
- Re-backtest target logic by regime quarterly; don’t assume yesterday’s ATR fits today.
Routine: Pre-Market to Post-Market
Process is the edge you control. Akil’s routine builds repetition and removes drama.
- Pre-market (15–30 min): mark levels, shortlist A-setups, set alerts; write “If-Then” statements for each.
- During session: execute only pre-planned plays; log emotion and deviations in real time.
- Post-market (10–15 min): screenshot winners/losers, tag by setup, note any plan breaks.
- Weekly: review tagged stats by setup and regime; drop or fix any play with negative expectancy.
Backtesting & Playbook Maintenance
He treats the playbook like code—versioned, tested, and pruned. That keeps confidence high when markets get weird.
- Maintain separate stats for each setup (win rate, avg R, drawdown, sample size ≥ 100).
- Track performance by volatility regime and session; only trade where expectancy is positive.
- Sunset or re-spec a setup after two consecutive months of negative expectancy.
- Add one variable at a time when optimizing (e.g., stop technique or target ratio), never two.
Psychology & Discipline
The edge fails if the operator tilts. Akil designs rules that make good behavior easier than bad behavior.
- Define a maximum number of trades per day (e.g., 3) to prevent overtrading.
- Use a pre-trade checklist; any “no” cancels the trade—no debate.
- After any plan violation, stop trading for the day and write a corrective “If-Then.”
- Separate outcome from execution: grade the trade on rule-follow, not P&L.
Playbook Examples (Plug-and-Play)
Concrete, prewritten plans turn ambiguity into yes/no decisions. Use these templates and personalize the numbers after backtesting.
Trend Continuation (Break-Retest)
- Context: higher-timeframe uptrend; clean break of resistance.
- Entry: limit at retest of broken level or single bullish engulfing at the zone.
- Stop: below the retest swing/wick by buffer or 1.2×ATR.
- Targets: T1 prior high; T2 1.8–2.2R; optional runner to next HTF level.
- Filters: avoid if news in next 30 minutes or ADR already exceeded.
Harmonic Pullback (Bat/Gartley)
- Context: corrective leg into PRZ with required fib ratios.
- Entry: rejection wick/engulfing at completion; conservative size on aggressive fills.
- Stop: beyond X or PRZ buffer.
- Targets: T1 38.2 of AD; T2 61.8; runner to structure.
- Filters: skip if the completion zone overlaps a strong trend continuation against the pattern.
Range Reversal (Fake-Out)
- Context: well-defined multi-touch box; obvious breakout fail.
- Entry: first pullback after closing back inside the range.
- Stop: beyond fake-out wick.
- Targets: T1 opposite side of box; T2 1.5–2R.
- Filters: no trade if the retest fails to hold inside two candles.
Metrics That Matter
What gets measured gets improved. Akil keeps the scoreboard tight and actionable.
- Core stats per setup: win rate, avg R, payoff ratio, time-in-trade, heat (MAE).
- Process stats: checklist compliance %, “A-setup only” adherence, session overtrades.
- Risk stats: daily/weekly drawdown, streaks, distribution of R’s (fat tail awareness).
- Review cadence: daily micro-review; weekly deep-dive with one fix for the next week.
Personalization & Scaling Path
The playbook should fit your lifestyle and attention budget. Akil scales edges that prove themselves and ditches the rest.
- Choose 1–2 core setups to master first; add a third only after ≥ 100 trades with positive expectancy.
- Increase size by 10–20% after two green months with full rule adherence.
- Create “no-go” rules that fit your life (sleep, work, family), not someone else’s calendar.
- Keep the journal visual: same screenshot template, same tags, every day.
Size risk first, let structure define stops and targets
Akil Stokes starts every trade by deciding risk, not by hunting profit. He fixes a small percent of equity per idea and then lets the chart’s swing points tell him where the stop must live. If that structural stop makes the position too big, he cuts the size until the dollars at risk match his rule. No signal is strong enough to override the math.
Structure also writes the exit plan before entry. Akil sets first targets at prior swing extremes and only considers runners if the higher-timeframe path is clear. He refuses to widen stops once placed; if the level breaks, the thesis is wrong and the trade is done. This way, the account grows from disciplined repeats, not occasional heroics.
Trade with trend: break, retest, continue using simple price action.
Akil Stokes favors the cleanest continuation play on the chart: a decisive break of structure, a patient retest, and a measured continuation entry. He waits for a full-bodied close through the level, then lets price return to that zone and prove it with a rejection candle or tight consolidation. The bias comes from the higher timeframe, so he’s not guessing; he’s aligning with the path of least resistance. If price sprints without retesting, he skips it and preserves emotional capital.
On execution, Akil places the stop beyond the retest swing to protect against wick noise and sets the first target at the prior extreme. If momentum is healthy, he plans a second target at the next mapped level or a fixed R multiple. He doesn’t chase, scale into weakness, or invent mid-trade logic; the plan is written before the order goes live. That discipline turns a simple pattern into a repeatable edge.
Adjust position size to volatility; cut risk in wild regime.s
Akil Stokes scales position size to the market’s mood so one crazy candle never wrecks the week. When volatility expands, he reduces the size or widens stops with a smaller position, often guided by ATR or recent range. If the daily range jumps above his baseline, he immediately trims risk per trade and accepts fewer, higher-quality shots. In quiet conditions, he tightens targets or stands down on trend plays until range returns.
Akil Stokes treats this like a thermostat, not a guess. He reviews volatility each session, sets pre-trade “if-then” rules, and refuses to override them mid-trade. If spreads or slippage blow past his tolerance around news, he steps aside rather than “adapting” on the fly. Matching size to volatility keeps expectancy stable and turns chaos into a manageable input, not a surprise.
Diversify playbook by setup, timeframe, and session to smooth equity.
Akil Stokes keeps multiple, well-defined plays so his results don’t hinge on one pattern or market mood. He pairs trend-continuation with corrective setups and a range reversal, then chooses the one that fits the current structure instead of forcing trades. By mapping the same instrument across weekly, daily, and intraday timeframes, Akil Stokes lets the higher-timeframe bias guide entries while the lower timeframe supplies precise timing. This mix reduces whipsaws and keeps the equity curve from living or dying by a single style.
Session diversification matters just as much. When London favors momentum but New York turns choppy, Akil Stokes adjusts which setups he allows and how aggressively he targets. If a pair behaves poorly in a session, he benches it and promotes another market that respects levels during that window. The goal is simple: match the play to the context, not the other way around, and let diversification across setup, timeframe, and session do the heavy smoothing.
Process over prediction: backtest, journal, review, then repeat relentlessly
Akil Stokes builds conviction from data, not hunches. He backtests every setup until he knows the stats by regime, session, and target method. That work turns uncertainty into if-then rules, so execution feels boring—in the best way. When a new idea tempts him, he tests it on paper first and only promotes it after a real sample proves positive expectancy.
Journaling is the glue that keeps his edge intact. Akil Stokes logs screenshots, reasons for entry, emotions, and any deviations from plan, then reviews them weekly for one actionable improvement. He grades trades on rule-follow, not P&L, because process quality predicts future results better than a single win or loss. The loop never stops: test, tag, tweak, and rerun until the playbook earns its keep.
In the end, Akil Stokes shows that durable trading is built on a simple structure, strict risk, and an operator’s discipline. He keeps the chart clean, lets levels tell him where the idea is wrong, and sizes positions so a single candle never decides the month. When volatility shifts, he adapts rather than forces—cutting size in wild regimes, tightening expectations in quiet ones, and accepting that “no trade” is often the highest-probability decision. He treats setups like tools, not beliefs: trend break-retests when markets are moving, corrective patterns when price is pausing, and range reversals when liquidity fakes traders out.
Akil also reminds traders that edge lives in preparation, not prediction. He builds a top-down bias before the session, times entries on lower timeframes, and writes exits before he clicks. He embraces backtesting and daily chart reps to turn uncertainty into stats he trusts, then reinforces those rules with routine and review. Even in forex—where volume is fragmented—he uses relative activity and price behavior to read participation without pretending there’s a single, perfect number. The takeaway is refreshingly practical: keep your playbook small and proven, scale risk to the environment, journal the truth about your execution, and let patience, not excitement, compound the account.
