Coach Teaches Martial Arts to Kids in Beirut Stadium Shelter

When Hassan Seif al-Din arrived at Beirut's Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium as a refugee, he didn't plan to become a coach. But watching displaced children wander past his tent each day, he saw an opportunity to give them something better than fear.

The 65-year-old martial arts instructor fled from Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, when Israeli bombing intensified in the region. Over a million people in Lebanon have been displaced by the ongoing conflict, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Living in one of hundreds of tents set up inside the stadium, Hassan maintained his daily training routine. Children gathered to watch, and he invited them to join. Now he teaches martial arts for two to three hours every day, helping young people build physical and mental strength.

"I thought to myself, let me bring them together, train them, and bring some joy into their lives through this sport," Hassan told reporters. The children often wake him up early, eager to start training.

Adnan, one of his students, has found more than just exercise in the sessions. "I really love how the coach teaches us, especially how to defend myself and build confidence," he said.

Why This Inspires

Hassan's makeshift training ground represents something deeper than self-defense classes. For children living through displacement, the daily routine offers structure, community, and a break from constant worry about what comes next.

The stadium itself has witnessed Lebanon's sporting glory, including a famous 2011 World Cup qualifier win over South Korea. Now it serves a different purpose, though the spirit of teamwork remains.

Lebanese football clubs are rallying to help. Players and officials from second-division club Akhaa volunteer at public schools sheltering displaced families. Safa and Nejmeh clubs have opened their own stadiums to house families and provide meals, while Ansar distributes food parcels.

Some players continue training near the tents, their presence lifting spirits. "It's sad that this place, which usually brings joy, has to be used like this," said Wael Chehayeb of the Lebanon Football Association. "But I am happy that the stadium is able to shelter people."

For Howaida Amin Mzannar and her family, who fled from the southern village of Aitaroun without any possessions, the solidarity matters. "Everyone is helping each other," she said. "The children are trying to create a sense of normal life."

Hassan has no plans to stop teaching. "I feel like I want to stay here and train them for a year, two or three," he said. "In a year and a half, I could make national champions out of them."