The article discusses a new and covert form of white supremacist organizing known as Active Clubs, which intertwine extremist ideology with fitness and combat sports. These groups present themselves as benign workout communities on various digital platforms, using encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and Wire for internal coordination while leveraging alternative social media for outreach.
Active Clubs have been implicated in distributing neo-Nazi propaganda and have rapidly expanded since 2020, with memberships estimated between 400 to 1,200 globally, primarily targeting young white men. The movement reflects a shift from formal white supremacist organizations to decentralized cells, a strategy termed “White Nationalism 3.0” by Robert Rundo, a prominent figure in the movement.
The clubs promote a culture of discipline, masculinity, and strength under the guise of fitness, preparing members for potential racial conflict. Their structure allows each club to operate semi-autonomously, complicating law enforcement’s ability to monitor them.
Active Clubs maintain ties with established white supremacist groups and recruit through community involvement, emphasizing self-improvement and hypermasculinity to attract new members. With an estimated 187 active chapters across 27 countries, they have become a significant domestic threat, masking their extremist agenda under the façade of fitness culture.
