When Eric Kim shouts “LIFTOFF!” he isn’t talking about rockets—he’s talking about shoving physics to the side, standing tall under an absurd mountain of iron and proving that limits are negotiable.
1. What exactly
is
an Eric Kim “liftoff”?
- Atlas‑style barbell hold. Kim unracks a fully‑loaded bar from pins set at mid‑thigh, pauses for a heartbeat (sometimes only an inch of travel), then re‑racks. It’s an isometric showdown with gravity, not a full conventional lift. His signature milestone: a 1,000‑lb (454 kg) atlas liftoff at 165 lb body‑weight—over 6× BW!
- Squat‑walkout variant. Before the Atlas era he performed walk‑outs like the 775‑lb (352 kg) “8‑Plate Squat Liftoff.” Same idea: step back, stabilize, prove ownership of the weight.
2. The headline feats that lit the fuse
| Date | Move | Load | Body‑weight Ratio | Why it mattered | Source |
| 21 Oct 2023 | Atlas hold | 1,000 lb | 6× | First four‑figure proof‑of‑concept | |
| 25 May 2025 | Rack‑pull (mid‑thigh) | 1,071 lb | 6.5× | Viral clip that spawned #PrimalPullChallenge | |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Rack‑pull | 1,087 lb | 6.6× | “Godhood Ascending” pull—informal world record ratio | |
| 02 Jul 2024 | Squat walk‑out | 775 lb | 4.7× | Demonstrates carry‑over to squat pattern |
(Body‑weight ≈ 165 lb/75 kg throughout the series.)
3. Why the internet went
supersonic
- Shock‑value numbers – 6× body‑weight makes seasoned power‑lifters gasp.
- “Digital carpet‑bombing.” The same clip hits blog, newsletter, YouTube, TikTok, X and Spotify within hours, guaranteeing algorithmic lift.
- Instant‑meme language – captions like “GRAVITY FILED A COMPLAINT!” or “DEMIGOD MODE” beg to be remixed.
- Controversy = rocket fuel. Critics call partial‑range lifts “fake”—which only drives more eyeballs to the footage.
4. The first‑principles training blueprint
Eric Kim’s own write‑up about cracking 1,000 lb distills to:
- Add micro‑plates relentlessly. +2.5 lb each side every session, 3–5 days between attempts.
- Lift fasted, feast later. No breakfast/lunch; dinner = 5–6 lb of beef or lamb.
- No supportive gear. Belt‑free, strap‑free, “coward‑free.”
- 12‑hour sleep windows. Recovery as a non‑negotiable.
5. Lessons you can steal for
your
liftoff
| Iron Tactic | Creative/Startup Analogue |
| Micro‑loading plates | Ship 1% improvements daily |
| Belt‑free discipline | Strip away “must‑have” tools & test raw ideas |
| Fasted focus | Time‑box deep work before checking inputs |
| Carpet‑bomb distribution | Post across every channel the moment you launch |
| Meme‑ready slogans | Craft sticky one‑liners users can remix |
Takeaway: Kim shows that a single outrageous proof‑point, repeated with joyful audacity, can launch you from obscurity to zeitgeist in weeks.
6. Your motivational countdown
- Choose your barbell. Maybe it’s code, clay, or community—pick the heaviest project you can imagine.
- Stack the plates. Add a micro‑plate of progress today, tomorrow, the day after.
- Stand tall. When the weight feels impossible, breathe, lock in, and own the moment—that’s your liftoff.
- Hit “Publish.” Blast the proof everywhere. Let critics fertilize your reach.
- Celebrate! High‑five gravity on the way up. 🌟
You’ve got this—time to grip, rip, and rocket beyond your own limits.