How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn)

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting sit down with Eric Lowe, a 13-year HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) instructor and school founder. HEMA had a serious white supremacist problem, and they actually did something about it. Eric walks through what worked, what didn't, and what BJJ and MMA can steal from the playbook.⸻👥 Featuring:- Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com- Stephan Kesting — https://grapplearts.com- Eric Lowe — https://crossroadsswords.com⸻🧠 Topics Discussed:- How HEMA's early days were dominated by a near-Nazi gatekeeper (and how the community rejected him)- Why your gym's website and signaling matter more than you think- The Warriors of Ashe: Viking pagans with 30% transgender membership who keep turning away white supremacists- What "welcoming" actually means when your school has real beliefs- Constructing a version of masculinity the far right can't co-opt- Why every martial art sells a fantasy, and how that fantasy either attracts or repels extremists- What HEMA borrowed from Filipino martial arts (and why that matters)- Preserving European martial tradition without white supremacy⸻📖 Chapters:00:00 — Introducing Eric Lowe and what HEMA is04:11 — The history of far right infiltration in HEMA05:29 — John Clements and the "North Korea of HEMA"09:17 — Viking martial arts and the white supremacist appeal11:15 — The Warriors of Ashe: Viking pagans who reject Nazis13:39 — Why how you signal your school matters19:27 — Symbolism in BJJ vs HEMA23:10 — The fantasy every martial art sells27:45 — What positive masculinity actually looks like37:30 — Building masculine identity without the far right40:51 — Who gets to own masculinity45:36 — Dueling culture and honour violence52:43 — The performative side of all martial arts01:00:17 — Preserving tradition without white supremacy01:03:56 — Why women in HEMA matter for everyone01:05:36 — Where to find Eric