How Neo-Nazi Active Clubs Are Spreading Across Borders

In London, Canada, a group of masked men chanting neo-Nazi slogans in a Telegram video underscored the expanding reach of active clubs. These groups, originating from American neofascist fight clubs, are rapidly spreading across international borders, utilizing fitness and mixed martial arts as a platform to promote neo-Nazi and fascist ideologies.

This incident, and others like it, illustrate a growing trend of these clubs establishing themselves in various countries. The active club model, designed by neo-Nazi Rob Rundo, has become a vehicle for recruitment and indoctrination.

Active clubs are now present in 27 countries, with new youth wings emerging and attracting young men to far-right ideologies. Rundo, who previously led the Rise Above Movement, shifted his focus to promoting active clubs after facing legal consequences.

These chapters, often operating in countries with large white populations, foster a sense of global struggle and are interconnected through online networks, particularly on Telegram. These networks promote and celebrate the activities of various local chapters, often highlighting those deemed most effective in their recruitment and training efforts.

Figures like Thomas Sewell, an Australian neo-Nazi, are admired for their work in promoting active club-styled groups. Sewell, who has a history of violence and recruitment, utilizes MMA-style training and tournaments to attract new followers and prepare them for potential conflict.

Other organizations, such as Patriot Front, have openly linked themselves to the active club movement, with members often participating in joint training sessions and sharing propaganda. This collaboration further solidifies the connection between these groups and their shared goals of promoting far-right ideologies and preparing for potential violence.