The German gym fighting the far right with MMA

Hip hop blares over speakers, barely eclipsing the thuds of gloves striking focus mitts and bodies dropping onto mats. As the evening wears on and the dozen participants break a serious sweat, condensation builds on the windows.

While Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training at Athletic Sonnenberg resembles many such gyms, members of the Chemnitz sports club see it as a battleground for democracy.

"This has a clear political element," said Stani, the martial arts coach at Athletic Sonnenberg. "Lots of martial arts gyms in Saxony are run by right-wingers and there are many right-wing structures in the MMA scene generally." 

Athletic Sonnenberg is focused on diversity and empowerment. Organizers hope it can stand out in a moment when the far right is increasingly instrumentalizing sports — and especially MMA — to recruit new members. 

The far right and MMA

Martial arts, often tied to football hooligan groups, offer right-wing groups a growing audience of young men. Many of them might not initially be interested in politics but can be reached via sports. MMA also doubles as direct preparation for violent confrontations with political opponents or police.

Chemnitz is one of the biggest cities in Saxony, a state in eastern Germany where the far right has long been growing. The Alternative for Germany party is the second biggest in the state legislature , and currently leads polls by a wide margin.

The extreme right is also on the rise, particularly among younger people. Mixed martial arts has long been an important recruitment tool for right-wing movements in Germany, like the Third Path. Attempts to ban prominent right-wing exhibitions hasn't stopped the growth.

"Here in Saxony, the far-right is ever more powerful, especially in martial arts but also in sports more widely. It's clearly been a trend in recent years," Lena, an Athletic Sonnenberg member, told DW.

"It's kind of an open secret . People know which gyms here have ties to former neo-Nazis or where people with ties to the Nazi scene train. You know to avoid those," Stani said.

Taking to the ring

Instead of just avoiding right-leaning gyms, Athletic Sonnenberg decided to offer something different. While participants come for a mix of reasons, the area's political atmosphere often plays a role.

"Right-wing structures and violence are present here [in Chemnnitz]. You see them in groups in front of clubs or outside shopping centers and it doesn't feel right," Lis, a participant in the MMA class, told DW.

"The MMA class helps us know how to deal with these situations, or at least feel a bit stronger when they come up. It's not like I think I can fight a big group of guys, but it does make a difference mentally to have training."

Lis also likes the openness and community feeling at Athletic Sonnenberg. The wider club, which also has football, volleyball and cycling teams, launched in 2020 and began offering martial arts classes in 2024.

Inclusivity is a priority, and the club offers both mixed gender training and sessions tailored specifically to women, trans and non-binary participants. From first-time fighters to advanced athletes, all are welcome.

"We want to offer young people here an alternative. If someone decides they want to try MMA, they should have more options than just joining a right-wing gym. They should also be able to join an inclusive gym where everyone trains together in an intercultural space," Lis said.

The inclusivity means that people not necessarily interested in politics also take part.

"I work in security, and my colleagues always joke that I need to hit the gym," quipped one of the participants after finishing his first ever MMA class.

"They won't let me live it down if I only do one, plus it was a lot of fun, so I'll definitely be back."

While organizers see the gym as a political project, simply offering an open, safe space where newcomers can drop by without having to worry about mingling with the extreme right is a victory for those who attend.

Edited by: Matt Pearson