Neo-Nazis are infiltrating Jiu-Jitsu—and most of us don’t even know it’s happening.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, we’re joined by investigative journalist Mack Lamoureux to expose the rise of “active clubs”: decentralized extremist groups using martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai as recruiting tools for white supremacist and neo-Nazi causes.

Mack spent nearly a decade reporting on far-right extremism for VICE News and now works with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, tracking extremist movements around the world. He explains how these groups organize in secret, how they weaponize the power of community, and how they’re already competing in tournaments and running covert training groups in cities across North America.

This conversation is a wake-up call for anyone who thinks Jiu-Jitsu is immune to radicalization—and a roadmap for how we push back.

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👥 Featuring:

Mack Lamoureux – Investigative Journalist
Jesse Walker ‪@RoughHandsBJJ‬
Mike Mahaffey ‪@OldBastardBJJ‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• What are active clubs—and how do they recruit?
• How extremist groups use martial arts to radicalize
• Why community is both a powerful tool and a dangerous weapon
• The terrifying overlap between fight culture and fascism
• What coaches and gym owners can do to fight back

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation
01:28 Understanding Active Clubs
05:11 Recruitment Tactics of Active Clubs
08:33 Training for a Race War
10:50 The Nature of Active Clubs
13:31 Community and Cult-like Tactics
15:29 Evolution of Active Clubs
20:41 Decentralized Structure and Terrorism
23:08 Identifying Active Clubs
26:27 The Power of Community Influence
31:14 Normalization of Extremism in Jiu-Jitsu
33:20 The Ethical Decline in Society
35:43 Understanding the Overton Window
41:13 The Role of Community in Combatting Extremism
49:46 Mental Health and Coping with Dark Subjects
54:48 The Power of Local Influence

Luke Thomas just appeared on The Daily Show with Jordan Klepper to talk about how the UFC has become a tool of radicalisation for the MAGA movement, so we invited him onto Fighting Matters to dig a little deeper. You can watch the original segment on Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePbMNq8m7Jw

Follow Luke Thomas on his Morning Kombat show here: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorningKombat

And check out Luke's Substack here: https://lthomas.substack.com/

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting are joined by scientist and author Kristi Charish to investigate how Jiu-Jitsu became a hotbed for pseudoscience, supplement scams, and influencer grifts.

We explore how a culture of male insecurity and anti-intellectualism has opened the floodgates to misinformation—fueled by algorithm-chasing gurus and podcast personalities more interested in profit than truth. From testosterone fads and supplement sponsors to sunning your testicles (yes, really), we unpack the deep societal forces that make grapplers uniquely vulnerable to snake oil.

If you’ve ever been told that breathing through one nostril will double your growth hormone, this episode is for you.

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👥 Featuring:

Kristi Charish – Scientist & Novelist
Stephan Kesting ‪@StephanKesting‬
Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why Jiu-Jitsu is especially vulnerable to pseudoscience
• The myth of the supplement “quick fix”
• How science actually works (and why grifters hate it)
• Why confidence sells better than expertise
• The parasocial trap of podcast influencers
• What “adaptogens” actually mean (hint: nothing)

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:06 Kristi's Science Background and Transition to Fiction
04:25 The Challenge of Science Misinformation
10:03 The Role of Influencers in Misinformation
16:02 Regulation of Supplements vs. Prescription Drugs
24:03 Understanding Scientific Research and Publication
38:32 The Nature of Expertise and Certainty in Science
46:54 The Risks of Superfoods and Supplements
48:46 Trust in Science and Misinformation
50:19 The Dangers of Distrust in Institutions
53:13 The Impact of Influencers on Health Perception
01:02:47 Misinformation Targeting Young Men
01:09:44 The Dangers of Male Beauty Standards
01:19:27 Improving Science Literacy in Society