A neo-Nazi fight club, the South Central Tennessee Active Club, secretly infiltrated Shelbyville BJJ Academy, a martial arts school in Shelbyville, Tennessee, which also trains young children. The group used keypad access to train outside hours, displaying Nazi symbols. After a Guardian inquiry, the school banned the group and a member, William Chase May, who was identified as having trained there and interacted with children.
‘Wolves in sheep’s clothing’: how a neo-Nazi cell infiltrated a martial arts school in Tennessee
Far right (US)TennesseeUnited States
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A neo-Nazi fight club, the South Central Tennessee Active Club, secretly infiltrated Shelbyville BJJ Academy, a martial arts school in Shelbyville, Tennessee, which also trains young children. The group used keypad access to train outside hours, displaying Nazi symbols. After a Guardian inquiry, the school banned the group and a member, William Chase May, who was identified as having trained there and interacted with children.
Trending- 1 2023: William Chase May awarded blue belt by Shelbyville BJJ Academy; May trained and interacted with young children at the school.
- 2 September (unspecified year, likely 2024): Images of Active Club chapter training at Shelbyville school first discovered.
- 3 December (unspecified year, likely 2024): Findings posted on Bluesky.
- 4 Last month (prior to June 21, 2025): South Central Tennessee Active Club published video footage on Telegram; SPLC reported statewide Active Club controlled by Patriot Front.
- 5 March (prior to June 21, 2025): News Channel 5 reported Patriot Front compound in Tellico Plains.
- 6 April (prior to June 21, 2025): Guardian reported on Telegram accounts showing Active Clubs with participants aged 16-18.
- 7 Last fall (prior to June 21, 2025): Daily Beast reported Ian Elliott infiltrated Athens grappling school.
- 8 Ongoing: Shelbyville BJJ Academy banned the group and May; Internal investigation ongoing.
- Neo-Nazi group banned from martial arts school
- Member banned
- Increased awareness of Active Club infiltration tactics
- Ethics concerns about recruitment of minors
What: A neo-Nazi fight club (South Central Tennessee Active Club) infiltrated a martial arts school (Shelbyville BJJ Academy); The group used combat sports to recruit young men into white nationalist circles; A member, William Chase May, was identified and banned.
When: Last month (video footage published); 2023 (May awarded blue belt); September (images first discovered); December (findings posted on Bluesky); April (Guardian reported on Telegram accounts); Last month (SPLC reported on statewide Active Club); March (News Channel 5 reported on Patriot Front compound); Last fall (Daily Beast reported on Ian Elliott).
Where: Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States; Nashville area, Tennessee; Tellico Plains, Tennessee; Athens, Tennessee.
Why: Active Clubs use combat sports and notions of fraternity as a gateway to extremism and to create a stand-by militia; To recruit boys and young men into white nationalist and neo-Nazi causes.
How: Infiltration of a martial arts school using keypad access; Publishing video footage on Telegram; Recruitment through combat sports; Use of symbols like the sonnenrad.