Historical Chiefs edge rusher Tamba Hali helps newest Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis with jujitsu … [+] all the device thru the offseason.
Tamba Hali
For greater than 50 years, the 101 Awards ceremony has served as a party of the prior NFL season.
But for George Karlaftis, the 2023 dinner party at the Westin at Crown Center in Kansas Metropolis helped quandary the stage for the grind of the pending offseason.
Although Karlaftis, the 2022 first-spherical make a selection wasn’t at the 101 Awards dinner in February, Ramzee “Bino” Robinson, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ director of participant engagement, became as soon as and knowledgeable Tamba Hali, a Chiefs ambassador, that Karlaftis valuable to work with him.
A five-time Decent Bowler with the Chiefs, Hali gave Bino his phone quantity, and Karlaftis then reached out to him.
“I’ve watched your film,” the second-365 days Chiefs defensive discontinuance knowledgeable him. “I if truth be told must study plenty from you.”
Rapidly thereafter, Karlaftis, the Chiefs edge rusher drafted thirtieth total in 2022, became as soon as knowing with Hali, the Chiefs edge rusher drafted 20th total in 2006.
“From a mental perspective, physical perspective, stir speeding, inch stopping,” Karlaftis mentioned, “Tamba taught me plenty.”
They knowledgeable two-to-thrice per week for a month a half of, engaged on hand combating, stir inch abilities and footwork drills to additional hone a participant, who had five-and-a-half of sacks in his final seven video games and one other in the AFC Championship Sport.
“George has the total attributes it takes,” Hali completely shared. “He has the beautiful mindset.”
Historical Chiefs edge rusher Tamba Hali helps newest Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis with his stir … [+] speeding moves.
Tamba Hali
A water polo goalie for the below-16 national team in Greece, Karlaftis is initiating to unusual sports activities, and Hali helped introduce him to jujitsu, which he mentioned applies to stir speeding attributable to its emphasis on leverage and transferring your hips.
Karlaftis came to Hali’s Overland Park, Kan. dwelling for 6 a.m. courses with Hali’s martial arts trainer. They’d in most cases enact stir inch drills before or after, most often knowing at Karlaftis’ health membership in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
“I’m grateful for him. He’s been a gargantuan friend, a gargantuan mentor,” Karlaftis mentioned.” I’m ceaselessly taking a secret agent forward to working with him.”
They persevered to focus on edge speeding components all the device thru the Chiefs’ organized team activities (OTAs). Hali, who recorded 89.5 sacks all the device thru his 12 years in Kansas Metropolis, requested how the offensive lineman were environment of their stance, emphasizing the importance in collaborating with them before the opposition can build contact.
They also bonded over their immigrant website online, discussing what particular person success can mean for their native nations. Hali, who has his possess file label, needs to originate a song festival in The United States, where Liberians can stir to showcase their abilities.
Hali became as soon as born in Gbarnga, Liberia, before leaving for the Unites States at age 10 to flee civil struggle in his native nation. Karlaftis moved to the US from Athens in the eighth grade, following his father’s death.
“It’s quite bit diversified for us,” Hali mentioned. “We now own quite bit of a chip on our shoulder.”
Tamba Hali (second from left) helped educate George Karlaftis (third from left) jujitsu at Hali’s dwelling … [+] this offseason.
Tamba Hali
Hali praised his pupil’s work ethic, humility and desire to study.
But Karlaftis isn’t Hali’s handiest student.
An All-Enormous Ten participant his senior 365 days at Penn Verbalize, Hali had stayed away, following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, nevertheless came abet to campus in late July to inform the Penn Verbalize defensive linemen on tactics such as what he taught Karlaftis.
He also reached out to unusual Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Because things are so busy at Colorado, which is in the midst of a valuable roster and personnel overhaul, it didn’t determine for this season, nevertheless he hopes to aid the Buffaloes in due direction.
Perchance being a stir inch coach is Hali’s future.
“I revel in sharing wisdom that I’ve gotten over the years,” he mentioned. “If there’s a components I can turn it into a model, for particular, it makes sense.”
Hali mentioned teaching comes naturally since his father, Henry, taught math and science at Teaneck Excessive in Original Jersey, where Tamba starred on the soccer field — and also bought a B in his strict father’s class.
Whereas studying below Tamba, Karlaftis has met his children and been welcomed to his dwelling, which is why Tamba considers it greater than a mentor/pupil relationship.
“There’s no exchange relationship there,” he mentioned. “We’re pals.”
