More than fad workout trends, gloopy protein shakes, and GRWM (Get Ready With Me) for the gym reels, fitness discourse has become a vehicle for promoting far-right ideology. In private chat rooms, Hope Not Hate reports that the number of fascist fitness groups are increasing in Britain, espousing far-right rhetoric alongside diet tips. The rise of these groups is ominous, as they can first appear outwardly innocuous, whilst inwardly spewing hateful racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic rhetoric on private online forums. In these spaces its members endorse and reaffirm fascist ideologies, and form communities which support these views. Hope Not Hate has argued that these groups are particularly concerning, as they not only create the capacity for political violence in their members, but also risk the positive benefits of exercise as supporting fascist ideology.
20th Century Fascist Fitness
The relationship between fitness ideals and far-right ideology is not new. It is a relationship evidenced by the actions of the failed interwar British fascist, Oswald Moseley. In 1930s Britain, Oswald Moseley’s British Union of Fascists encouraged physical fitness in its members. It offered summer camps promising to improve fitness, sports leagues, exchange trips with continental fascist movements, and even a weekly magazine article on fitness. Fitness and sport were political statements – physical manifestations of fascist masculinity, as well as preparation for violent action to further fascist politics in Britain. Beyond Britain, Italian fascist dictator Mussolini, as well as Hitler, promoted physical fitness and combat ability. These fascist bodies encapsulated the rigid gender roles of fascist ideology which values athleticism and strength in white men, which was translated as collective strength for white supremacy and fascist politics. This is relevant as the messages of 20th century fascism continue to be echoed in the far-right movement today.
Fascist Fitness Today
While there is historical precedent of fascist movements promoting physical fitness, the recent rise of far-right fitness clubs has been inspired by similar movements in the US. The 2017 Californian far-right Rise Above Movement (RAM) is a far-right street-fighting club. RAM’s leader, Robert Rundo, has promoted the creation of these “Active Clubs” which encourage fitness and prepare its members for political violence. This preparation is not theoretical, as a ProPublica investigation exposed RAM members committing violence at four different rallies, including the infamous 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia rally. According to Hope Not Hate, Active Clubs have proliferated to the UK, including Active Club Scotland, although this group has maintained that it is not a far-right organisation. Hope Not Hate further reports that focus on fitness in its members is being incorporated into existing far-right movements, such as Patriotic Alternative. This trend in far-right fitness and fight clubs has also been observed across Europe. The focus on fitness promotes far-right ideas of masculinity – physically strong, able to fight, and representing a collective nationalist ideal.
In the social media age and the isolation of pandemic lockdowns, far-right proponents have capitalised on the popularity of online fitness. The role of social media and online spaces in far-right recruitment and radicalisation is well researched. Social media allows the promotion of far-right ideology to disseminate globally, increasing the reach and exposure of individuals to far-right commentators and ideas. Individuals interested in health and fitness can be attracted to seemingly benign organisations, but later become involved in private closed chats on sites such as Telegram, a private messaging service which has been used to share extremist content and ideology. While groups are often reluctant to make public extremist ideology, the digital age has enabled these groups to network nationally and internationally, sharing and reaffirming ideology.
Marketing the Far-Right Through Fitness
Fascist commitment to physical fitness also aligns with the rebranding of the far-right as more modern and marketable. Promoting physical fitness and health forms part of this new image. Extremist researcher Cynthia Miller-Idriss has highlighted how more widely far-right organisations have encouraged healthy living, and discouraged participation in drugs and alcohol, and presents an alternative, fascist, lifestyle. Some far-right individuals have encouraged this as part of making the far-right more presentable and attractive to those it seeks to recruit. Furthermore, Miller-Idriss elaborates on how diet and foods are used by far-right ideologies to convey ideas of national and racial identity and lifestyles. Traditional cuisines are used to legitimise national identities, and to differentiate between those seen to belong, and those that are other. The diets promoted by the far-right are as varied as the groups that fall under the category, from the neo-Nazi vegan cooking Balaclava Küche, the so called “QAnon Shaman” who was permitted his organic diet while incarcerated following the 6 January riots, and the carnivore diet, an all-meat diet which promotes specific traditional ideas of masculinity. Food, as part of fitness and health discourse, therefore can be utilised by far-right extremists to assert racial and national identity, excluding those considered “other,” and promoting messages that align with their narrative. Fitness as part of the far-right image is also evidenced through some far-right organisations marketing merchandise advocating for a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness.
There is increasing recognition of the risk of far-right radicalisation through sports and fitness. In 2021 the EU Radicalisation Awareness Network published a report on The Role of Sports in Violent Right-Wing Extremist Radicalisation and P/CVE (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism). In the report, one aspect of sports clubs that makes them an ideal vehicle for far-right extremism is that they can be modified to support existing far-right ideologies. Participation in combat sports is advocated by far-right groups as necessary to secure “white” nations from what they consider threats from refugees and immigrants. Furthermore, the traditional ideas of masculinity associated with combat sports and fitness can be exploited by far-right organisations to further their traditional ideas of masculinity as protectors and warriors, while women are homemakers and nurturers. The international element of sporting events is also highlighted. These events enable groups to network, socialise, and promote their ideology, as well as an arena for recruitment.
This report, however, also highlighted that sports have the potential to counter extremism and radicalisation. Sports clubs and fitness have the capacity to build confidence, positive ideas of health and body, and social networks separate from far-right ideology and organisations. Such clubs are also well positioned to challenge antisemitic, racist and misogynistic rhetoric. This emphasises that sport and fitness are not exclusively spaces for far-right organisations. However, it’s important to realise that far-right ideology can incorporate and exploit these sports to radicalise members and further their ideology.
Exercise and sports not only improve physical fitness; these activities improve mental health, provide community and social spaces, and increase confidence. I have practiced martial arts on and off for years, and find it a rewarding activity that fosters a welcoming and inclusive community, and have never had a bad experience. Furthermore, whilst combat sports and the fitness industry are male dominated, these are not exclusively male spaces, evidenced by the women-only classes and gyms. Gyms in London reported increased popularity of combat sports with women after the period of Covid-19 lockdowns. The reported benefits for participants, who vary in background, are similar to men’s – confidence, community, and improved fitness.
Fitness and combat sports are enjoyed by many women, including myself. This makes its co-option by the far-right, as I’ve delved into above, all the more infuriating – especially as it is used to further an ideology that argues women shouldn’t even be participating in these sports. Evidently, combat sports are not intrinsically far-right, just as they can act as vehicles to advocate for far-right gender ideology, through women’s participation in fitness and combat sports can also challenge these traditional ideas. However, as this article has shown, coupling these activities with far-right ideology has the capacity to promote political violence and encourage support for fascism. Far-right ideology has no place in sports and fitness, these pursuits, gloopy protein shakes and all, and their benefits belong to everyone to build towards an inclusive society.
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