Neo-Nazi ‘Fitness Clubs’ Surge in U.S., Recruiting Teens via TikTok and Telegram
Behind the guise of fitness and brotherhood, a rising network of white supremacist “Active Clubs” is luring American teens into neo-Nazi ideology, using TikTok, Telegram, and combat sports as the bait.
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A growing network of neo-Nazi youth groups, disguised as fitness clubs, is recruiting American teenagers as young as 15 through social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram, spreading Adolf Hitler quotes and white supremacist ideology, according to a new investigation by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. The report reveals a 59% surge in “Active Clubs” across the United States since October 2023, with the number of chapters rising from 49 to 78, now operating in 42 states.
The Active Clubs trace their origins to the Rise Above Movement, a violent California-based group founded in 2017 by Robert Rundo. After participating in aggressive rallies in Berkeley, Huntington Beach, and Charlottesville, Rundo fled to Eastern Europe to evade federal charges. There, he collaborated with Russian neo-Nazi Denis Kapustin to develop “White Nationalism 3.0,” a decentralized network designed to elude law enforcement. In late 2020, the pair launched the Active Club model through a podcast, offering guidance on avoiding detection, organizing street fights, and disseminating propaganda.
Rundo was extradited from Romania in August 2023 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, receiving a two-year sentence in December 2024 but was released immediately due to time served. Kapustin, meanwhile, remains active in Ukraine, leading the Russian Volunteer Corps against Russian forces.
Members of Active Clubs engage in mixed martial arts training, military-style exercises, and public propaganda campaigns. By emphasizing fitness and community in their public messaging, the groups evade content moderation on platforms like TikTok while coordinating through Telegram. The network also hosts international mixed martial arts tournaments, drawing members from multiple countries, and generates revenue through merchandise sales under brands like Will2Rise and partnerships with other extremist groups.
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism warns that Active Clubs pose “a growing transnational threat,” with 231 chapters documented across 28 countries as of 2025.