Kansas City Chiefs DE George Karlaftis continues to work alongside a franchise legend this offseason.
Tamba Hali shared a new video of an early-morning training session alongside Karlaftis and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) master Dave Smarr. For the unaware, BJJ is a martial art that focuses on grappling, hand-fighting and ground fighting.
During Hali’s tenure in Kansas City, he sharpened his technique and ability on the football field by learning various martial arts techniques from Master Joe Kim, who is currently a skill development coach for the New England Patriots. Now, he’s passing the skills that helped him take his NFL career to new heights down to Karlaftis.
Check it out:
6 AM hanging out with Super Bowl winner for the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive end George Karlafitis, and black belt. Master Dave Smarr. Sharpening techniques. pic.twitter.com/W0Nj7wmcjN
— Tamba Hali (@TambaHali91) April 6, 2023
“So, this is what I’ve been doing pretty much every morning,” Hali said in the video. “Master Dave (Smarr), we’re in there. Today we’ve got George (Karlaftis), a pass-rusher for the Kansas City Chiefs. We work pass rush in the evening and now George and I are doing a little jiu-jitsu to understand how important technique is when pass-rushing — and mindset. Obviously, after a couple of classes here with Dave Smarr, our head instructor here in Kansas City, George is sold. You’re gifted and then there are those that know technique and are gifted and they uplift their game to the next level.”
It seems like Karlaftis has bought into the process that helped Hali become one of the greatest pass-rushers this franchise has ever known. We’ll find out in 2023 just how far these learned techniques can take the second-year pass-rusher.
