Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis is taking his training to the next level this offseason by working with Tamba Hali, a franchise legend, and Dave Smarr, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) coach. Hali recently shared a video on social media showcasing their early-morning training sessions.
Mastering Various Techniques
During Hali’s time with the Chiefs, he honed his football skills by learning various martial arts techniques from Master Joe Kim, who currently serves as a skill development coach for the New England Patriots. Now, Hali is passing these skills on to Karlaftis.
In the video, Hali explained that he and Karlaftis work on pass-rushing techniques in the evenings and practice BJJ with Master Dave Smarr in the mornings. BJJ is a martial art that focuses on grappling, hand-fighting, and ground fighting.
Importance of Technique and Mindset
Hali emphasized the importance of technique and mindset in pass-rushing, and it appears that Karlaftis has fully embraced this philosophy. Hali praised Karlaftis’ natural gifts and technique, stating that he is one of those rare individuals who possess both qualities and can take his game to the next level.
“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.”
Del Hewlett is a beats writer who has made a name for himself in the world of combat sports journalism. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, thanks to his family’s constant traveling he has been immersed in the world of BJJ since he was a child.
After studying journalism at university, Jackson started his career as a sports writer for a local newspaper, covering everything from soccer to MMA. However, his passion for BJJ soon led him to start writing about the sport exclusively, and he quickly gained a reputation for his insightful and well-researched articles.