The Pacific Palisades community is seeing a return of one of its cherished institutions with the opening of LUDUS, a new martial arts studio, on August 15 at Palisades Village. The gym, specializing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing, aims to provide a sense of normalcy and community for residents still rebuilding after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which destroyed the original MAX Impact gym and the homes of its founders.
LUDUS is a collaborative effort between Justin Caruso, a former student and Palisades homeowner who also lost his residence in the blaze, and longtime instructors James Gavsie and Freddy Cerrato. Caruso, son of billionaire businessman Rick Caruso, found solace and a sense of normalcy in martial arts training shortly after the fire, which inspired the creation of LUDUS.
"One of the first days that felt normal again for me after the fires was when our community of people that trained together got together in Venice at a temporary spot," Caruso stated. "It just felt like normalcy again. From that moment, I knew I wanted to bring this community back."
James Gavsie, a sixth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with over 30 years of experience, will serve as LUDUS' lead instructor. Freddy Cerrato, a first-degree black belt, brings over two decades of expertise in various martial arts disciplines, including Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, judo, and Kali. The original MAX Impact gym served a diverse cross-section of the Palisades community prior to the fire.
LUDUS is designed to foster a similar inclusive environment. A significant focus will be placed on youth programs, including after-school Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for children aged three to 12, as many of the area's commercial zones and after-school activity locations were impacted by the fire. The gym will also offer a women's self-defense program led by black belt instructor Anna Kemper.
The new LUDUS facility at Palisades Village will feature approximately 1,000 square feet of mat space, modern white oak finishes, floor-to-ceiling glass, built-in seating for parents, and multiple heavy bags for kickboxing. The space underwent a thorough cleaning and testing process to ensure no residual smoke damage before construction.
Caruso, who also works with his family's business and has been involved in the redevelopment of Palisades Village, hopes LUDUS will offer residents a vital space for connection and resilience as the community continues its recovery. "The most incredible thing about what we’re doing is we’re bringing back a local business that was lost, that was there for 20 years, that we lost in the fire," Caruso said, "and giving people a place to go again."