Studio Makes Local Impact

His name is James Gavsie but he is known at his studio simply as “Mr. G.” As owner and chief instructor of MAX Impact Martial Arts, Gavsie understands how important it is for people of all ages to be able to protect themselves and that’s why he has made self-defense the focus of his teaching since he opened his business in Pacific Palisades in March 1995. “Simply put, if it’s not effective, we don’t teach it,” says Gavsie, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “The best way to stay safe is to avoid a bad situation altogether and I teach seminars on things like ‘How to Deal with Bullies’ and ‘How to Avoid Drugs’ because those are issues kids are faced with every day at school.” MAX Impact offers much more than the typical karate dojo, which focuses on one specific discipline. In addition to traditional martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, kickboxing and Kali (stickfighting), Gavsie and his staff, which includes seven other instructors, offer self-defense classes for adults as well as for kids as young as 3 to 5 years old. “We’re like a dojo and a gym all rolled in to one,” Gavsie says. “We offer private lessons and group classes, we have weapons training and sparring. We also have a workout room in the back for people who are really into fitness.” Gavsie and his staff stay on the cutting edge of their industry. Fellow instructor and fitness coach Fred Cerrato has started a revolutionary ‘brain training’ company called Elite Sports Performance. In addition to knife and gun disarming skills they now also offer pepper spray training. “I have a 3-year-old myself so I know the dangers lurking out there for our children,” says Gavsie, who started his martial arts training in Canada before moving to the United States in 1996. “Also, it’s very important for women to learn basic self-defense techniques.” Kevin Stolper grew up in the Palisades and has been training at MAX Impact for about a year. “I didn’t want to join a gym because lifting weights isn’t much fun,” says Stolper, who is already a white belt in Jiu-Jitsu and a yellow belt in total defense. “It’s been a lot of fun and it teaches you great discipline.” MAX Impact offers 25 classes a week and typical classes range from 10 to 20 students with a minimum of two instructors. “Many of our students are local business owners who do our training and are good at it,” Gavsie says. “But we also have students from the San Fernando Valley and even Pasadena. Once they give it a try people love coming back because what we’re teaching is so practical. A lot of our business has been generated through word of mouth.” Gavsie estimates about 35 percent of the 150-200 students at MAX Impact are women and he attributes the high ratio to the healthy environment at his studio, where safety is the utmost priority. In fact, he offers incentives for families to get involved. He has also developed a working relationship with personal trainers from the Spectrum Club. “Everyone here is very respectful of each other and our motto is ‘My safety is my partner’s responsibility,'” he says. “I’ll have men sparring with women and seniors sparring with beginners. That way, no one gets hurt.” Alex Ercoli, co-owner of Caf’ Delfini on West Channel Road, has trained at MAX Impact for three years and attained his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in October: “All of the instructors are great and the atmosphere here is very friendly. You get to know everyone by name.” MAX Impact is located at 16632 ‘ Marquez Avenue near Ronny’s Market. For more information or to sign up for a class, call 310-454-7105.