Meet martial artist, Ed Bilbasoo
In the heart of Highland Park, Los Angeles, Ed Bilbasoo sits comfortably in the gym he built from the ground up—NELA Combat Sports, a sanctuary for those seeking the art of Muay Thai. As we talk, it's clear that this gym, a place brimming with life, sweat, and purpose, was born from something much deeper than a business plan. It was a lifelong dream, fueled by passion and sacrifice. Ed's journey to establishing NELA Combat Sports wasn't straightforward—it began, in part, with a comic book collection that he parted ways with to open his gym.
"I used to collect comic books, since I was a kid," he recalls. "My father would buy them for me, and later, I'd save every penny to get more. I’m talking about big-ticket items too, like Avengers #1 from 1963—I put that on layaway and paid into it over time. It was a serious collection.”
But during the pandemic, as the world turned upside down and Ed lost his job in production, he found himself at a crossroads. “I realized I needed money if I was going to open this gym. So, I sold the entire collection. Everything. Well, almost everything. I kept one comic that reminded me of my dad, an X-Men from the ’90s. It was my way of closing a chapter, maybe even an entire book." This act of selling off a cherished collection speaks volumes about Ed’s dedication, not just to Muay Thai, but to creating a space where others could experience what the sport has given him—discipline, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Growing up in North Hollywood in a poor neighborhood, his early life was shaped by hardship. Martial arts became his refuge. At six or seven years old, he started practicing Taekwondo, but Muay Thai captured his imagination from the moment he first passed the Muay Thai Academy of America in his grandmother’s neighborhood.
“I’d see the sign every time I passed by my grandmother’s house,” he recalls. “It had this big Muay Thai guy on it, and I remember thinking, ‘One day I’ll go there.’ When I turned 18, I took one of my first paychecks, signed up, and never looked back.”
That "never looking back" ethos has defined much of Ed’s life. After more than 26 years in the sport, he still trains regularly, balancing his own growth with the development of his students. But what truly sets Ed apart is his approach to coaching. He’s experienced the intense, testosterone-fueled environments of other gyms—spaces that often intimidate beginners or drive people away. And he's made it his mission to create something different.
“When I first walked into the gym as a teenager, I was scared to death,” Ed admits. “The guy on the bag looked like he could kill me. That fear was real. But I didn’t want my gym to be like that. I wanted to train people hard, teach them real Muay Thai, but without the toxicity. I want people to feel welcome, no matter where they’re starting from.”
Training Muay Thai requires extreme dedication, something Ed knows well. For years, he would train three hours every night and subsist on a single hot dog from 7-Eleven because that’s all he could afford. “It was tough, but Muay Thai gave me more than just physical strength,” he explains. “It sharpened my mind.”
Ed’s connection to Muay Thai runs deep. It’s a discipline that forces you to be present, he explains. “You have to focus when you train, or you’ll hurt yourself and your partners. If you’re not focused, the consequences can be serious. I’ve been kneed in the face, lost teeth—this sport demands complete mental and physical commitment.”
But Ed insists that Muay Thai is more than just a brutal combat sport. It offers an emotional release and mental clarity that few activities can rival. “It’s kind of like yoga in that way,” he muses. “You walk out of a session feeling relieved, with a sense of accomplishment.”
Ed’s inclusive community-focused philosophy has led to NELA Combat Sports’ rapid success. Ed has trained fighters from all walks of life, from high-level professionals to regular folks just looking to get fit or feel more confident. His past life as a coach to UFC and Muay Thai champions has given him credibility, but these days, it’s the everyday person he finds most fulfilling to train. “Yes, we train hard, but it’s a space where you won’t get beat up or hurt. I’ve taken the best parts of Muay Thai and left out the negative aspects.”
It’s a philosophy that resonates with his clients, and it’s part of why his gym has grown so rapidly in such a short time. “Muay Thai is for everyone,” he emphasizes. “You don’t have to be a professional fighter. If you come to my gym, you’re going to feel welcome, and you’re going to feel better about yourself.”
“I used to live vicariously through my fighters,” Ed says. “Training world champions and being in their corner was exciting, but after a while, it got old. Now, I get more satisfaction from helping regular people. I see them grow, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. It’s a different kind of reward.”
Despite all the success, Ed remains deeply grounded. He knows the sting of failure all too well, enduring failures both in and outside the ring. “I’ve failed at everything I’ve ever done in life,” he admits candidly. “I was a C student, got fired from every job I ever had. But after the last job, I told myself I was done working for anyone else. I took all the lessons from my failures and used them to build this gym." And that’s exactly what he did. With a blend of grit and wisdom from his failures, Ed and his team have been transforming lives for the last 2 years.
The resilience he’s developed over the years is what he now instills in his students. At NELA Combat Sports, it’s not just about the kicks, the punches, or the fitness gains—it’s about growth, mental fortitude, and rising above the noise. The journey is ongoing, much like the rounds of Muay Thai itself.
Ed Bilbasoo has created something special—something that gives others the chance to find themselves through the art of Muay Thai. “All those failures, all those tough times,” he says, “they led me here. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Ed is joining Guided Seeker in hosting our first trip of 2025 to Boracay, Philippines for a week long intensive journey into the art of Muay Thai. Ed will lead 7 days of training, coupled with the Guided Seeker style - stunning eco-luxury accommodation by the beach, curated local food experiences, water activities, sunset siestas and so much more. Registration is now open, and all levels of Muay Thai practitioners are welcome and encouraged to join.