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.…