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An MMA champion and Olympian is speaking out against hate and racism after a CBC News investigation found that certain martial arts gym owners, coaches and trainers were among the attendees of a \u00a0secretive neo-Nazi conference<\/a> in Vancouver\u00a0over the summer.<\/p>\n Arjan Singh Bhullar, a Richmond-based former mixed martial arts (MMA) heavyweight champion<\/a> who represented Canada at the 2012 London Olympic Games, said he was shocked and disgusted to learn that some members of the martial arts community are engaged with white supremacist activity.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, my initial thought was to fight hate with hate, maybe as a combat athlete and fighter, but you know \u2026 that’s never the answer,\u201d he told CBC’s On the Coast.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no place for this in society and in sport, especially martial arts.”<\/p>\n WATCH | Investigating a neo-Nazi meetup in Vancouver: MMA coaches ID\u2019d at a secretive neo-Nazi gathering<\/p>\n CBC\u2019s visual investigations unit identifies attendees of a neo-Nazi conference held in Vancouver using video from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. We find mixed martial arts gym owners, coaches and personal trainers who serve a diverse clientele, including children. Experts tell us this gathering shows that Canada\u2019s fascist movement is building alliances.<\/p>\n Researchers have long warned about the \u201cinfiltration<\/a>\u201d of the martial arts community by neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements.<\/a><\/p>\n But after CBC News published its investigation, naming specific individuals involved with MMA who went to the neo-Nazi gathering, Bhullar was quick to defend the sport as a force for good.<\/p>\n “Martial arts is a perfect common denominator to bring people together from different communities, different cultures,” he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThose that are tied to this are not a representation of our sport and our community. And I guarantee you they will not be welcome back.”<\/p>\n Bhullar, who runs a foundation for youth, says martial arts should promote respect, discipline and community \u2014 and that he’s even run youth programs to combat hate and racism.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an extreme sport in terms of testing your physical and mental limits\u2026 [But] we’re not drawn to extreme ideology,” he said.<\/p>\n “There’s an extreme nature to the sport, the physicality of it, and that’s where it stops.”<\/p>\n WATCH | Bhullar talks about film chronicling his rise: New film follows rise of 1st MMA world champion of Indian descent<\/p>\n Arjan Bhullar, a Richmond, B.C.-based mixed martial artist, became the first MMA fighter of Indian descent to win a world championship in the ONE Championship four years ago. Title Fight: Between Two Worlds, a new film releasing next week, follows his journey in the B.C. scene as he fought racism and bullying to rise to the top.Policy change<\/p>\n The Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) also spoke out, saying in a statement that those named in CBC News’s story were not welcome in its organization.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of the identified individuals, nor their organizations, are members of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada \u2014 nor will they ever be allowed to join,\u201d reads the non-profit’s statement. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764108519_183_default.jpg\")
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A national non-profit, which represents the interests of the Canadian fitness industry, says it will develop guidelines to guard against extremists and hate in the fitness world. (Kokulina\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n