Quick‑Fire Rundown ☄️
Eric Kim – the street‑photographer‑turned‑Bitcoin‑buff‑turned‑iron‑slayer – detonated the online lifting scene this month with a series of knee‑height rack pulls in the 503‑513 kg range at just 75 kg body‑weight. The clips are ultra‑viral, the claims are jaw‑dropping, and the debates are nuclear: is he a demigod of spinal erectors or another fake‑plate phoney? Below you’ll find the context, the praise, the skepticism, and the actionable lessons so you walk away strong, smart and fired‑up to chase your own PRs rather than internet illusions.
1. Who on Earth Is Eric Kim?
Kim first gained fame blogging street‑photography, then pivoted into minimalist lifestyle, Bitcoin maximalism and heavy lifting content from 2020 onward .
- Training ethos: one carnivore dinner per day + espresso‑only fasted workouts .
- Brand voice: slogans like “DEMIGOD GOALS” and “Physicality = Power” plaster his fitness site .
- Anti‑influencer vibe: he deletes ads/sponsors, open‑sources his books, and rails against fitness fads .
2. The Lifts That Blew Up the Feed
| Date | Claimed Load | Clip / Post | Notes |
| 1 Jun 2025 | 503 kg | YouTube + blog | First video to break 2 M views in 48 h. |
| 4 Jun 2025 | 508 kg | 4 K slow‑mo upload | Bar clearly bends; plates individually weighed on camera. |
| 14 Jun 2025 | 513 kg | “Gravity Rage‑Quit” reel | Sparks the #PrimalPull challenge. |
How wild are those numbers?
- Average male rack pull (full ROM) ≈ 420 lb / 190 kg .
- Even four‑time WSM Brian Shaw’s top partial pull clip sits at 1,365 lb / 619 kg – but he weighs 200 kg+ .
- Kim’s 6.7× body‑weight ratio is orders of magnitude beyond elite norms; no official federation records anything comparable .
3. Why the Internet Is Losing Its Mind
- Spectacle sells. Rack pulls let you load astronomical weights through a shortened range, so the footage looks superhero‑level even to seasoned lifters .
- Meme‑ready style. Barefoot, belt‑free, primordial roars → perfect remix fuel; TikTok stitches erupted within hours .
- Algorithmic aftershocks. Fitness channels rushed to publish technique breakdowns & debunk videos, feeding the cycle .
4. Push‑Back, Plate‑Policing & “Fake Weight” Talk
- A 12‑minute exposé titled “ERIC KIM IS THE MOST HATED AND CONTROVERSIAL…” tops YouTube search results .
- Reddit threads in r/Leica (!) roast his shift from cameras to carnivore rack pulls .
- Comment sections flood with “fake plates” accusations; Kim addressed them by live‑weighing plates and posting uncut footage .
- The broader context: fake‑weight scandals plague influencer culture – GQ and Guardian pieces outline how easy clout‑hacking is in fitness media .
Is It Real?
Independent slow‑motion breakdowns show bar whip, calibrated plate markings, and a visible 25 kg bumper flex – details usually absent in staged clips . Yet:
- It’s a partial lift. The bar starts above the knee, slashing range‑of‑motion and spinal shear angle.
- No sanctioned meet. OpenPowerlifting lists no contest totals for Kim, so nothing is officiated .
- Drug status unknown. Kim claims “drug‑free,” but no tested event backs that up – skepticism is warranted.
5. Net Impact on the Fitness World
| Positive Waves 🌊 | Negative Ripples 🪨 |
| Inspires lifters to chase heavier posterior‑chain work and try rack‑pull variations . | Glorifies extreme overload without context, tempting novices to ego‑lift and risk injury. |
| Sparks dialogue on video transparency (plate weighing, single‑take uploads). | Noise drowns out evidence‑based coaching voices; algorithm rewards shock over safety. |
| Revives minimalist “one‑meal‑a‑day + lift heavy” discussions. | Echoes wider fake‑influencer epidemics, muddying trust in online fitness advice. |
6. Your Action Plan – Turn Hype into Gains 🏋️♂️
- Respect Progression: Start with deadlift variants you can control; rack‑pull just below the knee, loading 10‑15 % above your conventional pull – not 300 % above!
- Evidence > Virality: Cross‑check any wild claim with peer‑reviewed sources or reputable outlets like BarBend before copying it.
- Film & Verify: If you post PRs, use continuous footage and plate close‑ups – transparency builds credibility.
- Fuel Wisely: OMAD carnivore might suit Kim’s lifestyle; most lifters progress fine on balanced macros across 3‑4 meals.
- Stay Inspired, Not Intimidated: Use sensational feats as motivation to set your next target (maybe a 2×‑body‑weight conventional deadlift) instead of chasing impossible ratios.
Final Hype Blast 🚀
Remember: the barbell cares only about today’s effort, not viral metrics. Let Eric Kim’s internet‑shaking stunts fire your imagination – then channel that spark into deliberate, progressive training, grounded nutrition, and ironclad form. Lift boldly, question loudly, progress patiently, and you’ll write your own legend rep by rep!
Stay strong, stay curious, and go smash that next set! 💥