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NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai

5 ★★★★★ 189 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Los Angeles, California

Muay Thai gym Free trial Authentic Thai Beginners welcome Private lessons Fight team

Authentic Thai — reviews and the gym's own info point to coaching rooted in Thailand's muay thai tradition. If lineage matters to you, ask where the coaches trained and about their kru.

Plan your first class

  • Free trial or intro class most gyms welcome new members with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Drop-ins drop-ins run around $40 — many gyms also offer monthly memberships and a discounted first session, so ask about new-member rates
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one coaching available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
  • Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule nelacombatfitness.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (213) 316-6996

Hours

Monday 8:30–9:30 AM, 6–8 PM
Tuesday 12–1 PM, 6–7 PM
Wednesday 8:30–9:30 AM, 6–8 PM
Thursday 12–1 PM, 6–7 PM
Friday 8:30–9:30 AM, 6–7 PM
Saturday 10 AM–12 PM
Sunday 10 AM–12 PM

Hours shift for holidays, seminars, and open-gym times — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Muay thai classes on the schedule at NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai, confirmed in members' own reviews and the gym's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🌱 Beginner Muay Thai 11 mentions

“The gym is super clean and everyone makes you feel very welcomed the head coach Ed is truly a genius at training all levels and makes you feel confident throughout the work out.”

All gyms that run beginner muay thai →

🥊 Sparring

“They either just had me spar right away or only told me what I was doing wrong, not necessarily how to correct it.”

All gyms that run sparring →

Other martial arts here

Muay thai gyms are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else members mention training under the same roof at NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai — mined from their reviews and the gym's own info.

🦵 Kickboxing

“The kickboxing class was intense in the best way possible - a hard but awesome workout that left me feeling like a total champ.”

Other gyms that also teach kickboxing →

🥊 Boxing

“I’ve been going around town lately trying different traditional boxing gyms, but none of them have really clicked with me.”

Other gyms that also teach boxing →

🎽 Karate

“Coming from a karate background, I thought maybe I should give Muay Thai a try instead.”

Other gyms that also teach karate →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the gym's own info — they show what members have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want BJJ, boxing, or MMA alongside muay thai, confirm the current schedule with the gym.

What members say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 189 Google reviews — in their own words.

🧑‍🏫 expert, authentic coaching 5 mentions

“Swung by on a Thursday for my first class (free by the way) and Ed was a great instructor.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 30 mentions

“The gym is super clean and everyone makes you feel very welcomed the head coach Ed is truly a genius at training all levels and makes you feel confident throughout the work out.”

🤝 no-ego, friendly gym 19 mentions

“Everyone was incredibly welcoming and insightful, and the classes are perfectly balanced between learning new combos/striking and conditioning.”

📘 real technique & fundamentals 3 mentions

“Ed is an amazing teacher who prioritizes technique and pragmatic strategies.”

🔥 killer workout & conditioning 6 mentions

“Everyone was incredibly welcoming and insightful, and the classes are perfectly balanced between learning new combos/striking and conditioning.”

🧼 clean, well-equipped gym 7 mentions

“The gym is super clean and everyone makes you feel very welcomed the head coach Ed is truly a genius at training all levels and makes you feel confident throughout the work out.”

From the reviews

GREAT gym. Super good vibes. Best workouts I’ve ever had, immaculately clean, and Ed is an amazing, friendly, and inspiring coach. Perfect balance of technique and conditioning. Couldn’t recommend any higher. Come kick some stuff.

★★★★★ — Ryan, Nov 2022

Took my first class on June 22nd, and I was immediately hooked. Coach Ed knows his stuff and is able to teach all levels. Made me feel welcome since day 1. Great place and highly recommend.

★★★★★ — Zach, Jul 2024

Everything at Nela Combat is top notch, from coach Ed and the rest of the coaches to the community that you find there. I felt like part of the family from day one. Coming up on one year doing Muay Thai and I’m 50 years old. Everyone there is encouraging and supportive and welcoming, even to an old man like me lol.

★★★★★ — Kevin, Aug 2025

If you're looking for a place that combines killer workouts with a welcoming community vibe, look no further! NELA Combat Fitness is IT! I was so pumped after my first class ever, I signed up straight after. Being a beginner myself, I was happy that everyone here took the time to show me how to do the moves.

★★★★★ — Flora, Jun 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 189 reviews →

New to muay thai? Start at NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai

NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first muay thai class at NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai

Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Muay thai is a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your coaches, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find NELA Combat Fitness- Muay Thai

5501 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA90042

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this gym? Claim your listing — it's free.