Hip hop plays over the speakers, barely picking up the sound of the gloves hitting the Focus mitts and bodies falling to the mat. As the evening progresses and dozens of participants sweat profusely, condensation collects on the windows.
While the mixed martial arts (MMA) training at Athletic Sonnenberg resembles many such gyms, members of the Chemnitz sports club see it as a battlefield for democracy.
“There’s a clearly political element to this,” Stanny, a martial arts coach at Athletic Sonnenberg, told DW. “A lot of martial arts gyms in Saxony are run by right-wingers and there are a lot of right-wing structures in the MMA scene in general.”
The Athletic Sonnenberg focuses on diversity and empowerment. Organizers hope it could come at a moment when the far right are increasingly turning to sports – and MMA in particular – to recruit new members.
far right and mma
Martial arts, often associated with football hooligan groups, offer right-wing groups a growing audience of young men. Many of them may not be interested in politics initially but they can be reached through sports. MMA also doubles as direct preparation for violent confrontation with political opponents or the police.
Chemnitz is one of the largest cities in the eastern German state of Saxony, where the far right has long been on the rise. The Alternative for Germany party is the second largest party in the state legislature, and is currently leading in the polls by a large margin.
The extreme right is also on the rise, especially among young people. Mixed martial arts has long been an important recruitment tool for right-wing movements like the Third Path in Germany. Efforts to ban major right-wing exhibitions have not stopped growth.
“Here in Saxony the far right is even more powerful, especially in martial arts, but also broadly in sports. This has clearly been a trend in recent years,” Lena, a member of Athletic Sonnenberg, told DW.
“It’s 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 them,” Stanny said.
take to the ring
Instead of avoiding right-leaning gyms, Athletic Sonnenberg decided to offer something different. Although participants come for a variety of reasons, the political climate of the region often plays a role.
“Right-wing structures and violence exist 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.
“MMA class helps us learn how to deal with these situations, or at least feel a little stronger when we come across them. It’s not that I feel like I can fight a big group of people, but having the training makes a difference mentally.”
Lis also likes the openness and community spirit of Athletic Sonnenberg. The comprehensive club, which also has soccer, 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 specifically for women, trans and non-binary participants. Everyone is welcome, from first-timers to advanced athletes.
Liss said, “We want to provide youth with an option here. 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.”
Inclusivity means that people who are not necessarily interested in politics should also participate in it.
“I work in security, and my coworkers always joke that I need to go to the gym,” quipped one of the participants after finishing his first MMA class.
“If I only did one they wouldn’t let me live it down, 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 gym where newcomers can come without worrying about mixing with the extreme right is a victory for those who attend.
Edited by: Matt Pearson