Secret to Karlaftis' Pass-Rushing Success Has Roots in Brazil

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Make no mistake, some of the techniques George Karlaftis has learned in Brazilian jiu-jitsu would be immediately flagged by NFL officials.

Tenets of the ground-fighting combat sport are submission holds rooted in grappling, taking an opponent to the ground and employing compression locks and chokeholds -- clearly violations of the league rulebook. But if they don’t call it, as any savvy lineman would say, it’s not a penalty.

“I don't speak any Portuguese,” Karlaftis said Sunday from the red carpet at the premiere of The Kingdom in Kansas City. “I am a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not to toot my own horn but I'll be ready.”

Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) speaks to media after training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Sport has been in Brazil since 1925

One hundred years after the Gracie brothers developed jiu-jitsu in Brazil, Karlaftis will use it to gain some sort of advantage against the Los Angeles Chargers when the teams open their season Sept. 5 in the sport’s namesake country.

Credit former Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali and former NFL assistant coach Joe Kim for introducing Karlaftis to the combat sport. Hali, who remained in Kansas City after his career ended in 2017, connected with Karlaftis in the spring after his rookie year and introduced him to Kim. Kim introduced the young defensive end to Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).

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

Hali registered 89½ NFL sacks over his 12-year career (2006-17), all with the Chiefs. But his ability to leverage blockers added another dimension once Hali began working with Kim.

“He was always a guy that created pressure,” Kim told Cleveland.com in 2016, “but he did it on effort. He didn't develop his skillset and needed the craft. When we got together and we started working together for four years, that's where Tamba Hali took off.”

Jan 6, 2018; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali (91) rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the second half in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Former Bill Belichick assistant meshed BJJ with NFL pass rushing

Kim began his NFL career with Bill Belichick’s Browns in 1992 and eventually transitioned to a pass-rush consultant for several teams. He also developed a Football Combatives program customized for edge rushers.

Locally in Kansas City, Karlaftis and Hali have been working with Master Dave Smarr, a BJJ black belt. And while the NFL outlawed two-a-days at training camp in recent years, Karlaftis and Hali created their own version to develop their skills in the combat sport.

The unique Chiefs duo – legendary former player and promising current defensive end – would begin their day at 6 a.m. with Smarr, then re-connect in the evenings to adapt techniques they learned to pass rushing.

Karlaftis, who signed a four-year, $93 million contract extension in July, led the Chiefs with eight sacks in 2024. A 6-4, 263-pound defensive end out of Purdue, Karlaftis entered the league as the Chiefs’ second of two first-round selections (30th overall) in the 2022 draft.

Along with Trent McDuffie, Isiah Pacheco, Bryan Cook and the rest of his draft class, Karlaftis is aiming to join the first set of NFL players in 32 years to reach Super Bowls in each of their first four NFL seasons.

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