Bears hire martial arts expert to help players with hand technique

The Chicago Bears finished the 2013 season with just 31 sacks, which was tied for the fewest in the NFL, and they are pulling out all the stops to help change that.

The Bears hired martial arts expert Joe Kim on Tuesday, according to ESPN. Kim will be tasked with helping Bears players with hand technique and skill development, especially in blocking on offense and escaping blocks along the defensive line.

Kim has worked for nine NFL teams over the past 20 years, with Bill Belichick initiating the trend by bringing him in to teach the Cleveland Browns during the 1992 season. The renowned martial arts coach has also worked with the Dallas Cowboys (1998), Miami Dolphins (2001 to 2006), Green Bay Packers (2005), Denver Broncos (2007), Buffalo Bills (2009) and New York Giants (2010). Kim most recently worked with the Kansas City Chiefs (2010-2012), where Bears general manager Phil Emery was the director of college scouting from 2009 to 2011.

Kim has been labeled something of a "pass rush specialist" during his prior stops around the league, with Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali even tweeting his praises last offseason and openly wondering why he hadn't been hired.