Active Club England: The Far-Right Network Preparing for Violent Action
Executive Summary
Active Club England, a growing far-right extremist group, has expanded rapidly by disguising itself as a fitness and self-improvement movement. Investigations by ITV News and the BBC reveal that the group has become increasingly militant, discussing weapons training, land acquisition, and strategies for seizing power during moments of civil unrest. Originating from the American neo-Nazi Rise Above Movement (RAM), the Active Club network has spread across Europe and North America, using physical training as a recruitment tool. Despite its public insistence on legality, experts warn that the group is fostering the next wave of violent white supremacist extremists.
Analysis
A Global Blueprint for White Supremacist Militancy
Active Clubs were conceived by Robert Rundo, founder of the Rise Above Movement (RAM), a violent far-right street-fighting group. After several RAM members were arrested for rioting in the U.S., Rundo shifted tactics, promoting a decentralized model known as “white nationalism 3.0.” This approach emphasizes localized groups that train together, spread propaganda, and radicalize new members while avoiding law enforcement scrutiny.
Since 2021, this model has spread globally, with Active Clubs now present in at least 25 U.S. states, Canada, and multiple European countries, including the UK. The movement’s emphasis on fitness and combat training attracts disaffected young white men, whom the group grooms into believing they are warriors in a struggle for racial survival.
Active Club England: Britain’s Fastest-Growing Far-Right Network
Following the 2024 summer riots, Active Club England exploited civil unrest to recruit new members, growing into a national network with over 100 members and at least eight branches. One of its largest groups operates in London, within walking distance of MI6 headquarters.
Undercover recordings from ITV News show the group’s rhetoric escalating from casual racism to discussions of violence, weapons stockpiling, and political power grabs. Recruits must meet strict physical benchmarks—a 60kg bench press and a 110kg deadlift—within six months or face expulsion, reinforcing the group’s paramilitary structure.
Extremist Indoctrination and Operational Security
The group maintains a strong online presence across Telegram, Gab, and Odysee while using encrypted apps like Threema to communicate. Members are instructed to buy Faraday pouches to block phone tracking, a tactic used by sophisticated extremist networks.
Key findings from ITV’s undercover investigation include:
Twelve secret meetings between October 2024 and February 2025 show a shift from racist jokes to active discussions about using weapons.
Plans to rent an indoor training space in London for knife defense drills to avoid police detection.
Efforts to pool resources and buy land for a dedicated extremist stronghold.
A Growing Threat of Violence
The group has already drawn in individuals with violent criminal records. One recruit, Jay Barlow, a convicted knife attacker, joined in December 2024—just weeks after receiving a suspended sentence for racially aggravated harassment. Despite being under probation, Barlow has shared videos of himself harassing minorities in public, bragging about his “zero tolerance” for non-whites.
Security officials fear the group’s increasing reliance on violent rhetoric will lead to real-world attacks. Former UK counterterrorism chief Neil Basu has compared Active Club England to National Action, the banned far-right group that celebrated the murder of MP Jo Cox.
International Coordination and Accelerationist Tactics
Active Clubs frequently collaborate with other extremist groups, including:
White Lives Matter (WLM) – Coordinated propaganda efforts and joint demonstrations.
Patriot Front – Shared training sessions and recruitment strategies.
Nordic Resistance Movement – A neo-Nazi organization with ties to Active Club Europe.
The group actively spreads conspiracy theories such as the “Great Replacement” myth, aiming to incite fear of racial extinction. Its accelerationist strategy—preparing for societal collapse and a future “race war”—mirrors tactics used by groups like Atomwaffen Division and The Base.
