‘Family Friendly’ Gym Training Partner Identified as Alleged Neo-Nazi
An alleged white supremacist, who reportedly claimed he travels the U.S. teaching martial arts to other right-wing extremists, has been training with a “family friendly” Tennessee grappling school that caters to children from the age of four, The Daily Beast has learned.
Ian Michael Elliott was previously a senior member of the regional chapter of the neo-fascist hate group Patriot Front, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. According to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, “Patriot Front’s ideology is built on the perception that White American culture and heritage are under threat from multiple angles and are facing complete annihilation if no action is taken... It can be classified as a neo-fascist hate group that is organized around the goal of preserving white American identity.”
Athens Jiu Jitsu, based in Tennessee, said it was “proud” to have Elliott “as a training partner and friend” in a March Facebook post that praised his performance at a tournament in Louisville, Kentucky.