As for the groups, Active Clubs, a violent neo-Nazi club, are rapidly spreading their influence globally, now having chapters in 27 different countries. In rural-propaganda’s hands, the organization has expanded across nearly every U.S. state, peddling white supremacist propaganda under Thomas Rousseau’s leadership. They get historical inspiration from the Third Reich and contemporary advice from the culture of European soccer hooliganism. Recent events, such as these martial arts training classes, foreshadow the growing impact of the movement, especially in the United States and Canada.
Rousseau posted a photo on Facebook last week that showed members practicing mixed martial arts techniques at an MMA gym in north Texas. This public display reflects not only the club’s investment in physical fitness, but its recruitment strategy. The cadre advocates anti-imperialist physical training to build strength and solidarity among the group’s members. We hope that this policy-making approach serves as an example of who they are at heart – their values, their beliefs.
Active Clubs have strategically positioned themselves in local gyms and parks, offering fitness programs and mixed martial arts training to attract new recruits. Corbin says the emphasis on the physical aspect is a draw for would-be members. Beyond this, it is an impactful recruitment tool to attract youth specifically interested in the precision and discipline of martial arts.
Its ideology takes copious inspiration from the machismo of the Third Reich. That’s because it encourages a soldier mentality for its rank-and-file members. This historical invocation is music to the ears of those who long for the days of fascist regimes that embraced concepts of racial supremacy. Active Clubs also exploit existing social patterns by reflecting the patriarchal, rapacious fervor of European soccer hooligans. They foster a culture that promotes hypermasculinity and violent behavior.
Beyond Rousseau’s exceptional leadership, advocates like Thomas Sewell have made their mark as champions of these types of groups around the world. Sewell, an Australian neo-Nazi, has been a key figure in bringing Active Club-inspired groups to Australia. His efforts are part of an encouraging, broader trend. Individuals from these and other countries are adopting and adapting the Active Club model to their local context.
Additionally, the increasing popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has given extremists another venue to spread their far-right rhetoric. The sport’s recent growth spurt in popularity with young men has further turned it into an open venue for advocating extremist viewpoints. During training sessions, members typically don black masks and sunglasses to conceal their identities. Besides being hugely self-defeating, this act deepens the already strong aura of secrecy and exclusivity around the movement.
Active Clubs have been making a splash all over North America. They are beginning to take root in places like Hamilton and London in Ontario, Canada. These places have turned into epicenters of neo-Nazi activity as racists and nativists gather and dehumanize people on a massive scale. The organization’s expansion into areas with significant white populations indicates a calculated effort to attract individuals who may be susceptible to such ideologies.
The group’s quick spread across borders is a worrying pattern of global extremism’s rise and reach. Countries currently facing an increase in white supremacist rhetoric offer prime conditions for networks like Active Clubs to thrive. As these groups flourish, they develop networks that extend across continents, making it harder to combat their reach.
Led by Robert Rundo, the Rise Above Movement is another example of how these extremist networks overlap and connect. Despite Rundo’s usual swagger, his group has faced serious legal setbacks. These problems were a direct result of their participation in violent acts, like the 2017 Unite the Right rally. After these events, Rundo focused on recruitment to his Active Clubs, showing how circular these movements are.