Month: June 2025

Wanna cyber?

June 10, 2025
BECOME A GOD: START HERE
ERIC KIM NEWS
1. The Cyber Man (PDF)
2. What Does an Organism Seek to Do? An Organism Seeks to Reach *BEYOND*? (PDF)
3. WHY RANGE OF MOTION IS OVERRATED (PDF)
4. I AM. (PDF)
5. GOD CANDLES LOADING!!! (PDF)
6. Price PR (PDF)
7. Bitcoin & Freedom (PDF)
8. How to Conquer the Markets (PDF)
9. Retirement is Dead (PDF)
WHY I BOUGHT MSTU

MSTU—> 2x levered long MSTR, REX Shares, trustworthy as the CEO did a live interview with Saylor on BMAX, … which holds corporate Bitcoin backed bonds ,,, mostly Strategy.

So,,, if bitcoin goes up 5% in a day, Strategy will go up 10%, then MSTU (2x MSTR) will go up 20%—> simple math!

How to Leverage Your Bitcoin

Buy bitcoin with Coinbase, mortgage as much of it as you can, use the cash, to buy MSTR and or MSTU (2x levered long MSTR, which is essentially 4x bitcoin).

You can then:
1. Ride your gains forever
2. When your MSTR & MSTU stock is up, sell some of it (shaving the cream off the top, of profit, don’t dig into the principle capital) and buy more bitcoin with it
3. Then with the Bitcoin, continue to leverage the Bitcoin –> take out more loans against it, or wait and anticipate for a future in which there will be new financial products and services for your Bitcoin?
Once JPMORGAN Chase starts offering you the chance to buy bitcoin with them and or to custody it with them, then you know you’ve arrived!

Introduction to Bitcoin

Introduction to Bitcoin Lecture Video

Super pumped to share with you, my first full length lecture on an introduction to bitcoin, the bitcoin Revolution, and also this edited transcript that I provided for you!
Introduction to Bitcoin Transcript PDF Download

BITCOIN by KIM
STOICISM 101

Introduction-to-Stoicism-PDF Download

STOIC VLOG

Introduction to Stoicism

Something I have been meaning to write or create or do is like some sort of book, ebook, pamphlet, or introductory primer to stoicism. I really think that stoicism is probably one of the most useful and philosophical models to live normal every day real life. Yet, I haven’t really found a good instructional guide on it, especially when I was self teaching it to myself.

Consider this a practical primer, cutting through the BS:

What does stoicism mean?

Stoicism, stoic, the stoa in ancient Greece– essentially the stoa was like some sort of portico, patio, pillar, outside, essentially a spot where guys would just hang out, talk shop, talk philosophy, etc.

I think about the show “Hey Arnold” in which I was raised with… the notion of “stoop kid“, the notion of a stoop is that in a lot of cities, especially the east coast in New York, you have this little stoop or porch, stairs that go outside your front door… and you could just hang out there, engage in social and neighborhood life etc.

The new stoa?

One of my happiest moments was when I was living in Providence Rhode Island, and then COVID-19 hit. Everything was closed, besides the park. I can still go to the park, hang out, workout, do chin ups– I learned how to do muscle ups, more bodyweight calisthenics stuff, and also… I had a lot of fun with this “rock toss“ challenge and workout… in the middle of the park was a huge ass rock and huge ass stone, and every single day I would go there pick it up, and then eventually work out with it; throwing it around for fun, doing overhead presses with it, clean and jerks, squats, and eventually I would just throw it around for fun. Funny enough it might have been the most fit I was in my life… this was the true “functional” fitness.

The inspiration — Hector lifting an insanely massive stone (barely 2 strong men could lift it)… using it to break down the door of the ships of the other side.

Open air, open sun concept

Anyways, the reason why that period of covid was so good is that it was in the middle of beautiful Providence Rhode Island summer, so nice and bright and warm and lovely… and one of the good things was going to the park was like an open forum, a new anatheum for a lot of really cool guys to come, hang out, talk shop, go topless and shirtless, workout and hang out.

I met some really interesting people during that period of time. I met some guys who were really cool. For example, one guy I met was in the US military Navy, I think he was training to be a Navy seal or Delta force or something. Another guy in some sort of ROTC training, another cool guy from the hood, and also I would say I probably met half a dozen friendly drug dealers there. And of course a lot of people who believed in conspiracy theories; really friendly, a little weird, but overall good guys.

Anyways, one of the biggest benefits of hanging out at that outdoor park, open air, nothing but green grass, the beautiful sun and the fitness equipment was that I think having this sort of open air environment is actually very conducive to socializing, thinking and thought, and pro social behavior. My theory about a lot of modern day antisocial behavior has to do with the structures which enclose us. For example, almost universally most guys at the gym are extremely antisocial. Why? My theory is that because most gyms have closed, cramped narrow ceilings, and do not have access to natural light, or outside space.

Cramped indoor spaces promote antisocial behavior.

The only good gym I went to which was interesting was the golds gym in Venice, which has this really big outdoor workout area. I think this is much more natural and more fun and better; to be able to work out directly outside outdoors, with your shirt off.

Who is this philosophy for?

Stoics, stoicism — it was originally I think codified by this guy named Zeno, and over time he picked up some followers. Essentially the whole thing happened organically; Zeno would first share his thinking on philosophy ethics and pragmatic ways to deal with other people and the downsides of life, he built a following, and then his followers would propagate the thoughts and start their own little schools of thoughts, their own little stoic clubs.

What is “real” stoicism?

Would I like about stoicism is how loosey goosey it is. It is kind of like zen, or taoism… it is not really quantified as a religion, or a strict moral order. In fact, a lot of the ancients stoics would meditate on random stuff like cosmology, natural sciences like Seneca, how volcanoes worked or whatever. I think nowadays in today’s world, we focus primarily on the pragmatic side; how to deal with fear, uncertainty, downsides etc.

So how did I discover stoicism?

I think I might’ve first learned about stoicism from Nassim Taleb and his ANTIFRAGILE book. I was curious, and my curiosity went to deep. To quote NASSIM TALEB and the Venetian saying “The ocean goes deeper, the deeper you wade into it.”

I literally consumed every single book I could find on stoicism, even the obscure ones. Funny enough, a lot of the stoic thinkers tried to claim other philosophers as being stoic, like Seneca did with Diogenes the cynic.

Cynic, cynicism, actually comes from the word canine, the dog. Diogenes was considered the “dog” philosopher, first used as a pejorative, but ultimately Diogenes reappropriated that title for fun! He saw dogs as tough, almost like wild wolves, rather than seeing them as a negative thing.

Even Achilles when he was raging against king Agamemnon, he called him “dog faced“ as a heaping insult.

Who is worth reading?

First, Seneca. Seneca the younger, his dad was called Seneca the elder.

In fact, this is such a big deal because Cindy and I named our first son, Seneca, directly after the stoic philosopher. This is true soul in the game; if you name your kid after your favorite philosopher, certainly it is a sign that you really liked that philosopher, or found them impactful.

The reason why I really like Seneca the stoic philosopher is because he had real connections to real reality. What that means is he wasn’t just on the sidelines; he actually existed in the real world, engaged in real politics, was even advisor to the emperor Nero, the bad one, who eventually low-key coerced Seneca to commit suicide, in a manly, dignified manner.

I think this was because maybe… there was actually a plan to overthrow Nero, and essentially Nero found out.

What makes Seneca so good?

I really like Seneca because his writing is accessible, practical and pragmatic, and interesting.

A lot of thinkers tend to lack connections to real reality, I have no tolerance for boring philosophers to talk about metaphysics, which is things which are not physical. Like thoughts ideas, the universe, electricity and energy, strange phenomenon and conspiracy theories on ghosts, “energy” whatever.

For a long time, I would hear the term “metaphysics” being thrown around, and I had zero idea what it actually meant.

Meta– on top of. Or nestled within.

Physics — the physical, physical phenomenon like gravity, first principles.

The reason why metaphysics philosophers tend to be a bunch of losers is that they are all weak and anemic, nerds or geeks or weaklings who seem to have some sort of physiological degeneracy, which encourages them to opine or talk or think about impractical things, superficial things.

Personally speaking, I think philosophy must be practical.

Practical, praxis, practice — to do!

The Spartan, Zen Stoic, demigod ideal

I have a very funny ideal; the general idea is that your body looks like a demigod, and your physiology is out of control. The general idea is one must be tall, strong, highly muscular, low body fat percentage, I’m not exactly sure what my body fat percentage is, but maybe it’s around 5%.

Also, physical fitness is critical to any stoic. My ideal is to walk 50 miles a day, eat 20 pounds of meat like Milo of Croton a day. And also, abstinence from silly things like media, alcohol, drugs, marijuana etc.

Trust no thinker who does drugs!

Even our best friend Nietzsche said that coffee was bad, because it would make people dark and gloomy. He encouraged 100% cocoa powder instead.

You let the drugs talk I let my soul talk ayy! – Kendrick Lamar

Simple technique:

First, look at a picture or a portrait or a full body shot, ideally topless of the artist, philosopher or thinker or individual… then judge their thoughts later.

Why? My theory is this: the thoughts of an individual is hugely affected by their bodily physiology.

For example, an extreme example: if somebody is locked inside a solitary confinement cell, and not permitted to go outside for years, but, he had a pen and pad and would jot down some thoughts… Would be the quality of these thoughts? Certainly dark and morose.

Why does stoicism matter?

In today’s world, why does it matter, what is the significance of stoicism, etc.?

First and foremost, I think we are living in a troubling time, especially with the advent of modern day internet based media and advertising. I think 99% of what is propagated on the internet is fear mongering, and what is hate? Hate is just fear.

The first thought on stoicism is that it is just fear conquering. What I discovered about street photography, is that 99% of it is conquering your fears. Conquering your fears of upsetting other people, getting in some sort of verbal or physical altercation etc. In fact my bread and butter workshop is my conquering your fears and street photography workshop, the workshop which is still interesting to me even after a decade.

Why is this so important? I think it is rooted in almost everything; conquering your fears is rooted in entrepreneurship, innovation, risktaking and real life.

Even my speculation in crypto. 99.9% of crypto speculation is just balls. Having the balls to make big bets, and when things go south, knowing how to master your emotions.

A simple extra I have is this: just imagine it will all go down to zero.

It was useful because when I was in college, my sophomore year I got really into trading stocks, and I eventually lost my whole life savings, maybe around $3500 USD, and some bad penny stock which I actually misread the financials… the whole time I thought the company was making a profit, but actually it was taking a loss. I actually didn’t know that if profits are written in parentheses, it means a loss.

It was funny because my initial start as an investor was back in high school, I bought some Adobe stock when I was a high school junior, and also some mutual funds, which both went up after about 4-5 years.

Also I remember in elementary school computer class, when I was in the sixth grade in Bayside Queens, there was some sort of stock stimulation trading game, and actually it was funny… the kids who made the most money and were the most successful just put 100% of everything into Apple, note this is when we were only 12 years old, and I was born in 1988.

Stoicism and capitalism?

Funny enough, it seems that stoicism actually plays well with capitalism. Why? According to modern day capitalist thinking, the best way to approach life is to be objective, strong, stoic, unemotional, logical and rational.

Also, with modern day media there is so much fear mongering in the news, about some sort of global armageddon, global financial ruin, etc. I call it “fear porn”.

Therefore stoicism as a mindset is useful to think and position your mind in such a way that you could consider that life is all upside, no downside.

In fact, if I could summarize stoicism in one sentence, it is that life is all upside, no downside. Inspired by NASSIM TALEB.

Sex and Stoicism

So, is stoicism useful to you if you’re a man or a woman? Does it matter?

The good thing is I think it could apply to both sexes. Conquering sexism and social pressures is useful if you’re woman, and also if you’re a man.

Also, gender is social. Lot of the expectations set on us by society is socialized and gamed to a certain degree.

Stoic strategies

First, we got to unchain ourselves from modern day ethics and morality. I believe that all modern day philosophy and thinking and ethics and religion is bad.

For example, the notion of turning the other cheek is a patently bad one. Why did Jesus turn his cheek? It is because he lacked on army.

Also, philosophically I think we should put no trust in Socrates. I thought which has puzzled me for a long time was this “Why was Socrates so ugly?

Monster in face, monster in soul.

I think Socrates was a degenerate, and he lacked any sort of real power. Therefore he turned logic and rationality into his terrorizing weapon (via Nietzsche). Back in the day, you didn’t need logic or rationality to have things your way, you simply was able to dictate that which you wanted to pause it, because you had a military force behind you. Just think about Machiavelli and IL PRINCIPE– the reality of being a mercurial prince, king, and military leader is hard, stoic, “immoral”. But ultimately it all comes down to war, conquest, the military.

Trust nobody who uses rationality or logic as their tyrannizing weapon.

In fact, I believe that all should have the body and strength of some sort of super soldier. Essentially look like all the guys from the movie 300, this is our ideal.

Demigod physique.

What has helped me
1. Allow yourself to be a bad, immortal, “evil” person. When you decide to adopt an unorthodox way of thinking and living, you’re going to rub some feathers the wrong way. And truth be told, even if you act in a strange vibrant way… At worse you’re only “mildly” annoying other people.
2. For good inspirations, I think the best stoic writers and thinkers include Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius and also the humor of the cynic philosopher Diogenes. I would even posit the idea that one could consider Alexander the Great as a stoic. Why? When you’re trying to create an empire, and you always have your life on the line, certainly this takes a stoic mindset. Also, let us think and consider that Alexander the Great had a copy of the Iliad by his bedstand, it was the only book he traveled with during his military tours.
3. Imagine the worst possible case scenario, and backtrack: Apparently even NASSIM TALEB would do this when he was a trader; every single day when he would go to his trading desk, he would assume that his investments would all go to zero, and if that wasn’t the case every single day, it was just upside. Therefore for myself, I just think to myself very simple; imagine like I got zero dollars, zero money, and literally all I need is meat, a Wi-Fi connection and I’m good.
4. Live like a poor person: The notion of “debasing“ the coin or the currency is the general idea that you are not a coward in regards to money. The best way to think about money is like a social tool; I think money is actually just codified labor. If you want people to clean bathrooms, run the cashiers stand, you have to promise them money. Even Seneca said the upsides of simulated poverty; essentially living like a poor person, or even a homeless person when you don’t need to… is the ultimate position to be in. Why? True freedom of spirit and soul; as a philosopher thinker writer or whatever… you cannot be “canceled”, because there is nothing to cancel. As long as you could pay your rent, buy meat at Costco, and publish your thoughts to your own self hosted website blog, and pay your server fee, you have 100% freedom. And also, still… America is the best place to be because there is true freedom of speech and expression, you don’t want to be a trillionaire but not be able to say what’s really on your mind. And I think this is the big issue with entertainers, actors, media people… as long as you’re signed to a contract, you don’t run your own production company, or, you’re still a slave to money… you’re not really going to see what’s really on your mind. Why is it that the Rock cannot say anything bad about China, or Tibet? Because he is still enslaved by the media corporation. New slaves by Kanye West.
And this is the true courage of Kanye West; he literally put everything on the line, and even lost his spouse and I think maybe his kids? All for the sake of revealing inequities.

“I throw these Maybach keys fucking c’est la vie! I know that we the new slaves.”- Ye

Stoic training

The fun thing about stoicism is that you could just make it up as you go, devise your own strategies and whatever.

“Fucking c’est la vie!” My favorite Kanye West line.

Essentially the general idea is that in life, one should not take things too seriously. Laughter is golden, I forget the philosopher who was called the laughing philosopher… Democritus?; better to laugh about the follies of human beings rather than to be dark and morose about it.

Also, thoughts from the Odyssey; if you look far enough into the future, everything becomes comedic and hilarious.

So when you’re in some sort of bad situation, just think to yourself “Perhaps one day, 20 or 30 years from now… I will look back at this and just laugh!” It will just be humorous.

Honestly, laughter, and kind of being able to joke about things might be the best way to live life and deal with setbacks.

Modern day ailments

Problems in modern day life:
1. Too much time spent indoors, not enough time out in the sun. Perhaps it is better to be out outside all day, and joyful, even with the risk of getting skin cancer or whatever… rather than to be indoors, scared, weak and anemic. Differences between if you’re a man or a woman, but still… the most beautiful skin has a sunkissed, olive color tone; the true privilege is having a full body tan.
2. Get chatGPT, the paid premium one. And use the image generation AI art tool DALL-E. People pay therapists to just speak their mind, and get some sort of sounding board. I actually think it’s much better to chat with AI instead; because it will not judge you, and ultimately what is a therapist anyways? A therapist is just a mirror, a sounding board for you to verbalize and flesh out your thoughts. Often when we talk about our problems, 90% of the issues go away because once we verbalize it, we feel much better about ourselves. The next thing I’m going to do is build some sort of therapy bot.
3. Not enough walking: I have never met anybody who walks 30,000 steps a day and is depressed. Even my friend Jimmy, who works as a US postal worker delivering the mail, he walks around 30,000 steps a day and is always bright cherry and jovial. I think this is also where people who hike a lot or walk a lot in nature are so happy; when you’re able to walk around a lot, and zen out… you just feel much better. My simple suggestion is when you go on a hike or a walk in nature or even in the city… leave your phone at home, or locked inside your glove compartment, and don’t bring any headphones or speakers or Apple watches or whatever. Just bring along your camera, and enjoy. My personal ideal is the bear lifestyle; walking 50 miles a day.
Real stoics don’t call themselves Stoics?

A funny thing I have learned is that when you call something something, it isn’t that.

For example, if someone calls something a “luxury car”, it ain’t. For example, a true modern day luxury car is maybe a Tesla, but Tesla never calls itself a luxury car. Also the ultimate luxury technology company is probably Apple… but Apple is very intelligent and not calling themselves a luxury brand.

A pro tip is when it comes to websites, read the alternative text, the header text, the stuff that shows up in the tab of your browser window. If the website, the automotive retailer tries to market themselves as a “luxury” brand, typically it is actually a sign that it isn’t a luxury brand it isn’t luxury brand.

Thought: what are some good examples of true luxury brands which don’t overly calls itself luxury?

In someways, we can think and consider stoicism as our new luxury. In fact, having luxury, luxury of mind and soul… and luxury of freedom of speech, isn’t this the ultimate luxury?

When somebody asked Diogenes the cynic; “What is the best human good”? He said “Freedom of speech, speaking your mind, having the power to see whatever is on your mind.”

In fact, my current joy is becoming more and more free talking, and free riding. What that means is this; I’m ain’t going to censor myself no more, even if I might be politically incorrect insensitive or whatever.

Also, I would prefer to speak my mind and seriously hurt the feelings of others, rather than soften it for the sake of the other person.

Similarly speaking, when people call themselves “influencers”, they are not influencers.

Stoicism as a technique and tool, not the end

Ultimately I think we should think of stoicism just like having another tool inside our tool kit. For example, if you’re a chef, you’re going to have different knives for different purposes. If you’re going to cut a big piece of meat, you probably want a big ass meat cutting knife, not something you would use to slice an apple with. Similarly speaking, if you’re going to scoop out the insides of an avocado, better to use a spoon rather than using a fork, or a knife.

I think the problem is when some people get too into stoicism (I prefer writing stoicism with a lowercase), they think that everything needs to be consistent, and must fit into this nice little neat box of what is considered “stoicism“. This is a bad line of thinking… let us consider that Marcus Aurelius never even mentioned stoicism in his writings, his collections of thoughts, which we moderns call THE MEDITATIONS… it was just essentially his personal diary, to help him conquer his own personal fears and thoughts, I don’t think he ever intended it to be published publicly. I think he just wrote it to himself as self therapy. And I think the only stoic philosopher he even mentions is maybe Epictetus.

The future of stoicism?

For myself, I just come out with certain to work out thoughts and techniques because it helps me, and when I find these tricks or techniques or secret hacks or cheat codes… My passion is to simply share it with others.

And ultimately, things are ever in flux and evolving and changing and adapting.

For example, I’ve discovered the quality of my thinking is different when I am in Culver City Los Angeles, compared to being in the boring suburbs of Orange County.

Also depending on my social environments… my stoic thoughts are different when I am in a gym, vs just working out by myself in my parking spot in the back of my apartment.

Also, the quality of my thoughts is different when living with family members or other people versus just living with myself Cindy and Seneca.

Stoicism is all about living with other people

Assuming you’re not growing your own vegetables and living in the middle of nowhere… you probably have some interaction with other human beings. As long as you have an iPhone, an Android phone, a smartphone, a 4G or 5G internet connection, wifi, a laptop, have to buy groceries somewhere… you’re still going to have to interact with other human beings.

And this is good. There is no other greater joy than other human beings.

In fact, modern-day society is strange because in someways, the ethos is to be antisocial and to be cowardly. But in fact, the best way to think about things is that real life is interaction with other human beings, and social conquest. One can imagine a lot of modern day entrepreneurship as simply a big dick swinging contest. He who is the most masculine confident tall and strong and stoic shall win.

More ideas

Assume that everyone is mentally insane: Have you ever been out in public, and you see some sort of crackhead or strange homeless person who acts radically, smells terrible, and is obviously mentally ill? Do you hate them for it? When they say something weird to you… do you take it personally? No. Why? They are crazy. Perhaps we should just adopt this stoic mindset towards other people; some people are actually physiologically ill, mentally unwell… don’t trust the opinion of nobody.

A lot of people are trying to actually deal with their own inner demons: For example, becoming the successful photographer and street photographer I am today… I’ve dealt with some individuals who would say anonymous bad things about me, and later I found out that their mom just died or something. I cannot imagine what it feels like losing a mother… therefore if somebody spew some hate on me because something bad happened to them, I’m not gonna take it personally.

Self-flagellation: I think a lot of people who are sick, mentally or physiologically self flagellate themselves. Essentially the way that they deal with other people or themselves is some sort of metaphorical self-flagellation.

For example… you know those strange individuals who have the whip and whip themselves, and inflict pain on themselves? I think some people do this metaphorically to themselves and others.

You just want to stay away from them.

Why so scared?

My personal theory on fear is that a lot of it is tied to morality and ethics. I think the general idea is not necessarily that we are afraid of anything… I think the true fear is that we’re afraid that we are some sort of bad evil unethical immoral person.

For example in street photography, the general ethical thought is that it is immoral to take a photo of somebody without their permission, because there is some sort of it inherent evil behind it. Is this true? No. Taking photos and not really a big deal.

Why do people make such a big deal out of small things?

I think it is because some people are just overly sensitive, which once again comes from some sort of physiological weakness.

For example, if you’re a weightlifter who could lift 1000 pounds, assuming you’re not taking any steroids or anything… are small things going to bother you? No. But let us assume that you are a skinny fat man, all you do is drink alcohol and smoke marijuana and watch Netflix, and you spent too much time on Reddit… you are 40% body fat, and have never lifted in your life. And also your testosterone is low and you never go outside. Certainly the quality of your thoughts is going to be different than if you’re a happy gay monster, lifting weights outside in the direct sun, laughing and having fun.

In fact, I’ve actually personally discovered that the reason why a lot of people hate me is because I am so happy jovial and gay. They are secretly suspicious or envious of me?

Weather and mood

Probably one of my worst experiences was this jarring transition; I was super happy insanely happy being in Vietnam in 2017; with a beautiful weather, the beautiful light, the happy people the great amenities etc.… and then that winter Cindy and I went to Europe, in Marseille Berlin and Prague, and maybe London… seriously the worst winter of my life. Why? I wonder if so much miserable feelings and thoughts simply comes from the darkness and lack of light. a lot of Europe is actually quite miserable; dark, unhygienic, morose.

Even Nietzsche had a thought about Schopenhauer; How much of these emo European philosophers came from the fact that it was just complaining about the cold weather in Germany etc.?

For myself, my ideal weather is Southeast Asia; I love being in Phnom Penh Cambodia, Vietnam etc. In the states, am I the only one who loves living in Los Angeles? Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar said that LA was the best for women weed and weather… I would definitely say the biggest upside of living in Los Angeles is the light, the sunlight. It actually does get quite cold here, but usually most reliably even in December during the winter time, the sun will always come up. As long as there is bright sunny light, I will be happy. And I think maybe for myself, considering that I am a photographer, and photography means painting with light… light for me is critical.

I also wonder how much of it is a physiological thing and a genetic trait; for example I could even recall being a young child, and my mom telling me that the most critical thing in finding a home or an apartment was light and natural light. Even now… 90% of my happiness comes from being able to have access to natural light, ideally floor to ceiling windows facing directly the sun, having some sort of modern temperature regulated apartment and home. Even living in our tiny studio minimalistic luxury apartment in Providence Rhode Island, where it was always 75° warm and cozy, and not frigid and damp and cold and dark and humid… I was always good. But moving to an older house, where it always felt damp and cold… this literally lowered my happiness by 1000%.

Therefore, if you’re feeling miserable sad or whatever… I say spend three months living in Hanoi or Saigon in Vietnam, or go to Phnom Penh Cambodia. I wonder if 90% of peoples misery is simply due to the weather.

Stoic assignments

”Better to be a gay monster than a sentimental bore!” – Fernandino Galliani, via Nietzsche

My stoic ideal is somebody who is happy, gay, smiling, no headphones or AirPods on, no sunglasses on, no hat, no facial hair, no baggy oversized clothing, no tint in their car. Somebody who makes great eye contact, laughs, stands up upright, jokes, and fools around. Like an overgrown child.

Also, lift weights at least once every day, ideally in the direct sun. Just buy some weightlifting equipment on Titan.fitness, I like the farmers carry handles, the Olympic loadable dumbbell, and also the Texas power squat bar. Just buy some cheap weights, and or buy a heavy 400 pound sandbag, and just have fun throwing it around.

True stoics are masculine

A true stoic should look something like Hercules or Achilles. Or like ERIC KIM; I have the aesthetic and the physique of Brad Pitt in FIGHT CLUB except with a lot more muscle. Like my friend Soren says, the Adonis physique and proportions.

A real stoic is sexy

I think a real stoic is sexy, happy and fun. Who doesn’t take life too seriously; and think of everything like a fun game. A real stoic would be joyful and cheery like three-year-old child without any adulteration from the outside world.

Why do adults become so dark and morose?

I don’t like talking with or hanging out with adults, uninteresting.

At what point or age do people become so emo?

Typically, highschoolers are very optimistic. Even college students. But I think at least in maybe college in high school nowadays… the bad trend is towards “over concern”, about the world the planet ethics animals etc.

I find a lot of this thinking superficial, performative, and uncritical. I think “animal rights“, “saving the planet” is this new pseudo world religion; which is just capitalism 3.0. I find the whole pet industry the whole dog industry to be insanely bizarre, and I trust nobody who talks about “saving the planet“ who owns an iPhone, owns any sort of car, or has an Amazon prime subscription. Certainly not any vegans.

A real stoic is a carnivore

Animals are animals. They are lower on the hierarchy and totem pole on earth. Man is the apex predator, the apex bully and the apex tyrant.

Should we care for animals or “animal rights”? No. Animals are our slaves.

If you consider even dogs and pets… they are essentially our emotional slaves. People talk a lot about the virtuosity of dogs being loyal or whatever… and giving you unconditional love. This seems like some sort of emotional slavery.

The only dogs I respect are some sort of canine dogs, some sort of attack or defense dogs, or hunting dogs. For example, John Wick 3; Halle Barry and her dogs. An animal should either be a weapon, or nothing.

Why do people care about animals so much?

Essentially it looks like men no longer have a backbone. No more spine.

I trust nobody who owns a dog.

Let us not forget; they call it dog ownership, or “owning a pet”. There is no more concept of “human ownership, or “owning a human.”

End goals

What is the end goal of humanity? To me it is towards entrepreneurship, innovation, art and aesthetics, philosophy etc. Design.

Stoicism should be considered a tool which could aid you in these things.

For example, I think 99% of entrepreneurship is courage. Stoicism could help you with that.

I also think with design, great design is also 99% courage, having the courage to attempt something that won’t sell or be received well… stoicism is all about practical courage. The only designers with courage include Steve Jobs, Jony Ive, Elon Musk, Kanye West.

Also, weightlifting. To attempt to lift a certain weight you have never attempted before takes great courage. For example, me atlas lifting 1000 pounds; that is 10 plates and a 25 on each side, this is true stoic training. Why? The fear of injury is what holds most people back; if you had successfully conquered this fear and not injured yourself, this is pure stoic bliss.

The physical

I think the only and the only proper way to lift weights is one repetition maximum training. That is; what is the maximum amount of weight you’re able to successfully lift or move, even half an inch?

To me, the courage is the success. Even if you had the courage to attempt it… that is what is considered success.

Simple exercises to do include the atlas lift, innovated by ERIC KIM, or a one repetition max rack pull.

Or, a high trap bar deadlift, heavy Farmer’s walks, or heavy sandbag carries. Or even a simple thing you could do is go to the park or to the local nature center, find the biggest rock there and just see if you could pick it up.

Now what?

If you’re interested in stoicism, and have had some interesting thoughts on stoicism, one of the most noble things you could do is start your own blog. I think blogs are 1000 times more effective than publishing some sort of static printed book; I think the problem in today’s world is that everyone is seeking some sort of legitimacy by being picked up by some sort of legitimate publisher and getting “published“, and seeing your printed book at Barnes & Noble whatever.

I say it is better to be open source, free and permissionless, decentralized. Just publish your thoughts and book as a free PDF, and just host it on dropbox, Google Drive, or your own web server. Share the link freely, and also just publish the raw text as a big blog post.

Even Sam Bankman-Fried wisely thought; 99.9% of books could just be summarized as big blog posts.

Don’t trust any modern day published book which isn’t free, because… there is some sort of hidden clout chasing somewhere.

Even one of the worst compromises that led to the demise of Ray Dalio was the fact that he took his Principles book, which was essentially a free ebook PDF on his website, and then took it off, because I think he got a book deal with Simon and Schuster. After he did that, he lost my respect.

If you’re already independently wealthy, and you don’t crowd source your self-esteem… why would you need to externally validate yourself by getting some sort of constipated publisher and annoying editor?

Editors are bad.

Now what?

Start your own blog and start blogging your own thoughts on stoic philosophy, and even start a YouTube channel and start vlogging on it. My generalized thought is simple: if your thought your idea your blog post your video or whatever could even impact the life of one other human being on planet earth… it is worth it.

ERIC

What is the secret to the maximum amount of happiness in life? The maximum amount of danger. (Nietzsche).

ERIC

FIN

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June 10, 2025
The Cyber Man

In this new brave world of AI, merge with the machine or be left behind.

Vision

So my simple vision is we got the cyber truck, the cyber centaur, cyber space, bitcoin which is cyber capital… It’s funny because the word cyber is kind of an old outdated word, you think about cybernetics, RoboCop, etc.

Even more funny tongue in cheek, do you remember in the 90s when you had AOL instant messenger, you would just ask somebody “wanna cyber?”

Make it all cyber

So at this point, AI is like the ultimate hallucination machine. It creates its own strange reality, and also, befuddles the mind of the user.

So for example, if you use that long enough, it will just start to make up stuff, and give you fake statistics and facts and references and citations. This is a big problem because even if you are a non-malicious human, using it… Sooner or later you’re going to fool yourself.

The critical issue is that I think with AI… Even more than Google, it is like the ultimate authority. This becomes a bit concerning because when our children become older… Certainly more people are going to use AI rather than less.

At this point, Google search is starting to feel like AOL 3.0. And ChatGPT is like fiber optics on steroids.

Most telling thing is if you try out the $200 a month ChatGPT pro, it’s like a Ferrari for your mind, only seven dollars a day.

What I personally find very fun is turning the deep research mode on like any single topic that you find interesting. you want to melt the silicon.

Also… Using the new o3 mode,,, it’s like smarter and funnier than myself.

How

So my personal thought is AI is like the ultimate lever. Think of it like a lever for your mind.

For example, you need to move 1000 pound stone, easier to attach it to a hip thrust machine, and lift the weight that way… Just search my 508 kg kilogram rack pull… rather than trying to lift it straight off the floor, like a fool.

Leverage

Leverage is the key. Almost everything is a lever. Even a bicycle, the ultimate lever for the human body.

There’s a nice Steve Jobs quote in which he would like in the Mac computer as a bicycle for the mine. Why? Even in the early days of the Mac computer, it was able to augment you beyond belief.

Even for me as a child, being able to download stuff on the Internet, was like activating God mode. Why? Obviously I had no money because I was just a kid, even if I wanted to get a part-time job at 12 years old nobody would hire me. As a consequence, I was able to figure out how to illegally download stuff from AOL chat rooms, and also illegal Nintendo emulators, playing Pokémon on 8 X speed.

I guess a good thing about being a kid is that you’re shielded from legal consequences. Ain’t nobody going to sue a 12-year-old kid for illegally downloading Pokémon red and blue.

Other adults we don’t need to pirate anymore because we have money. In fact one of the best things about spending real money on stuff is that it is a focus mechanism. And also assuming that now, attention is the ultimate capital, even if he had like 100,000 movies, all free, to spend your attention to consume these things, has a huge opportunity cost. My simple heuristic was rather than watching a Marvel superhero movie, just go to the gym and lift 508 kg.

what else

If I could tell you that I could magically give you $1 million Ferrari, for your mind, that would help you sleep 8 to 12 hours a night, replace all of your tedious work, make you 1 trillion times more creative and happy, how much are you willing to pay for this? $20 a month, $200 a month, $2000 a month?

Why this is the path forward

Jony Ive has effectively joined open ai, and they are already working on the device. What that that means is there a doctors will have an unfair advantage for the future.

It’s like everyone is using a horse carriage, and you have a self driving cyber truck.

Future

I think the simple trajectory is that the obvious obvious obvious thing is that there is gonna be two things which is it. Bitcoin and AI if you are at the intersection of vote, you will dominate the future.

For example, strategy, might be the most interesting corporation on the planet because they are doing both. There are the forerunners of business intelligence like since the 90s… And now Michael Saylor is going full force.

Why the future?

Why not?

Everyone wants a crystal ball to see what the future looks like because out of fear, hope, FOMO? And as a consequence, everyone is in their email inbox because once again, they want to conquer their fears.

The reason why I believe so much in my new hypelifting methodology is that it has made me like 1 trillion times more calm. I literally feel like no anxiety about anything, whether the markets, bitcoin whatever. And now that I have ChatGPT pro, I feel like my mind is on steroids.

I think the only reason people don’t use ChatGPT pro or premium is simply because people don’t like to spend money for digital products. Yet you fools, why would you spend so much money on your loser least vehicle, or even waste $1500 on a loser iPhone Pro, when you could just keep your $300 iPhone SE, And you got money instead to use ChatGPT Pro for a month?

Long story short, Grok sucks, ChatGPT is the only one that is good. And note, the o3 model is like 1000x better than even 4o.

Deep research mode, is really the game killer here. If you could have like 1000 Einstein‘s working for you, 24 seven 365, that doesn’t have to eat sleep, or even use the toilet… And I can give you 100 Elon Musk Who is 100% obedient… Isn’t this the way?

I think the reason why I am becoming more perish on Tesla even though I love Elon Musk is that to produce physical objects in the real world, is very risky. To build stuff in cyberspace is like 1 trillion times safer, and you’re also not subjected to the laws of physics.

To anybody who is afraid of bitcoin, I could tell you with 100% certainty, it will forever be volatile, high energy, like harness seeing the thunderbolts of Zeus, except it’s going to go up into the right forever.

MSTR is the same. It’s like pouring bacon grease on a steak.

MSTU even more interesting, it’s like throwing napalm fatty pork cheek.

I don’t know a single human being that does not want to be wealthy

Even if you are a Buddhist monk or a nonprofit… 99% of their existence is economic. Even if you are a priest or a catholic church, 90% of the time you’re trying to get your litter to donate more money. Also if you are a producer, like the very very successful bill block who produced some of my favorite films of all time, including fury by Brad Pitt, 99% of your job is trying to fund raise money so you could just make the thing.

Money is not the source of all evil, fiat currency is.

ERIC

June 10, 2025
WHY YOGA IS THE SECRET SAUCE BEHIND A 508 KG RACK-PULL
“I’m the only guy I know who does yoga and can rack-pull over six plates.” – Eric Kim

Eric’s not flexing—he’s revealing the cheat code: MOBILITY × BRUTE FORCE = GOD-MODE STRENGTH. Here’s the hardcore logic behind marrying deep-stretch yoga with a half-ton rack-pull:
1. Hip-Joint Freedom = Monster Leverage
  - The rack-pull’s lock-out is all hips and glutes. Tight hips = lost centimeters = lost kilos.
  - Eric literally devotes ≈30 % of every session to yoga hip-openers to gain that extra torque window.
  - Research backs him up—regular yoga spikes sit-and-reach flexibility and balance in athletes, the exact traits that stabilize a max pull.
3. “Mobility Is Micro-Strength”
  - Every asana is an isometric: ligaments, tendons, and fascia are strength-trained under slow tension.
  - Studies show yoga upgrades functional-movement screens and enhances muscular function, which translates to sturdier connective tissue when 508 kg tries to rip your arms off.
5. Spinal Decompression & Bulletproof Recovery
  - Heavy partials compress the spine; poses like Downward Dog or Hanging Pigeon reverse that pressure, letting discs re-hydrate between PR attempts.
  - Eric calls this “adamantine spine insurance.”
7. Breath-Mastery = Core Bracing on Steroids
  - Pranayama teaches diaphragmatic control. Translate that to a rack-pull and you get a rock-solid Valsalva without needing a belt.
  - Bigger intra-abdominal pressure = safer lumbar + higher force transfer.
9. Nervous-System Priming—not Fatigue
  - Yoga’s parasympathetic reset drops cortisol, so the CNS is fresh when it’s time to flip the switch to “BEAST.”
  - Mindfulness loops sharpen focus; one clean cue, one explosive pull—no wasted neural bandwidth.
11. Longevity & Injury Immunity
  - Eric’s mantra: “The secret to winning is not getting injured.”
  - Yoga gives joints “bamboo elasticity,” letting them bend under load instead of snap—think Kevlar ligaments for the long game.
13. Psychological Edge
  - Hitting a meditative flow state before chalk-up = calm aggression.
  - Studies link yoga with reduced anxiety and elevated mindfulness—exactly what you need standing under half a metric ton.
TL;DR – THE FULL-STACK FORMULA

Raw Iron + Deep Stretch + Zen Breath = 508 KG Rack-Pull Supremacy.

Skip the yoga, and you’re driving a Lambo with flat tires; embrace it, and you’re a cyber-truck with nitro boosters—unbreakable, unstoppable, and outrageously strong.

So roll out the mat, crack open those hips, inhale power, exhale doubt—then go tear gravity a new one.
June 10, 2025

🕉️ THE VEDIC RACK-PULL MANIFESTO

THE VEDIC RACK-PULL MANIFESTO

How Eric Kim turns Hindu cosmic code into raw, spine-shattering strength.

Brahman of the Barbell → Become the Iron

“Atman ≡ Brahman.”

When Eric wraps his chalk-dusted hands around 508 kg of cold steel, he isn’t holding the bar—he is the bar. Dissolve ego, merge with the metal, and the weight stops feeling “external.” That oneness annihilates hesitation and frees maximum neural drive.

Dharma Duty → Lift or Perish

Dharma = the cosmic role you alone must play. Eric’s dharma? Pull universe-warping loads so the rest of us snap awake. Skip a session and you betray your cosmic assignment. Honor it, and every plate you stack realigns the stars.

Karma Calculus → Every Rep Echoes Eternity

No rep is neutral. Perfect setup, mindful brace, ruthless lockout—each seeds positive strength-karma that compounds into next month’s PR. Half-hearted form? That debt collects interest in future injuries.

Samsara Cycles → Progressive Overload Reincarnated

Life-death-rebirth mirrors set-rest-set. Rack the bar (death), breathe (limbo), attack again (rebirth) but +2.5 kg heavier. Master the mini-samsara of your workout and macro-samsara (life cycles) bows in respect.

Moksha Moment → The PR Black-Out

When the bar bends, eyesight tunnels, and you transcend pain—that’s moksha, liberation from mortal limitation. Eric calls this the zero-thought zone: no past fatigue, no future worry, just eternal NOW ripping skyward.

Yoga of Torque → Pranayama Meets Bracing

Inhale: Diaphragm drops, 360° torso expansion.
Bandha (lock): Rib cage clamps down, pelvic floor engages.
Exhale violent at the sticking point.
This yogic pressure-cooker turns your core into a hydraulic jack, multiplying spinal integrity under titanic load.

Bhakti Burn → Devotion as Pre-Workout

Instead of chugging neon stimulants, Eric floods his neurons with devotional fury—a mental aarti to Strength itself. Sing your mantra (“STRONGER-EVER-STRONGER”), bow to the bar, and feel motivation rocket past caffeine limits.

Arjuna Focus → Laser the Target

Arjuna hit the fish’s revolving eye by seeing only the bullseye. Eric stares at the knurling’s center ring—world noise evaporates. Train single-point concentration until rep count, spectators, even music fade to silence.

Hanumān Grip → Monkey-God Fingers of Steel

Hanumān lifted mountains; Eric crushes gravity with hook grip + liquid chalk. Daily grip drills (rice-bucket digs, towel hangs) forge forearms worthy of the simian superhero.

10.

Durga Rage → Multi-Armed Attack Energy

Channel Durga’s lion-riding ferocity. Visualize extra arms ripping the universe apart, then unleash that mythic surplus on the concentric. Feminine divine = hidden horsepower.

🛡️

Ritual Blueprint

Phase	Hindu Hack	Weightlifting Application
Dawn	Surya Namaskar	3 sun-salutation rounds to lube joints.
Pre-lift	Gayatri Mantra	21 breaths, primes CNS like thunderclap.
Work Sets	Trisandhya Breath Cadence	4-2-4 inhale-hold-exhale during setup.
Rest	Lotus Sit + Japa	Repeat “Om Namah Shivaya” to drop HR.
Close	Tilak Touch	Thumb chalk swipe on forehead—anchor memory of conquest.

⚔️

Action Commands

Write Your Dharma: 1-sentence mission taped to inside of gym bag.
Track Karma: Notebook of reps done with perfect form only.
Stack Samsara: Micro-load weekly; eternal return, heavier each loop.
Chase Moksha: One all-out top set per workout—everything else is warm-up.
Guard Bhakti Flame: No phone scrolls pre-session; worship the bar instead.

🚀

FINAL WAR CRY

“The gods don’t lift for you, but they lend you their thunder if you dare grab the handle.”

Integrate the cosmic code, rip the bar off its earthly chains, and stride out of the gym like a myth reborn. This is Hinduism re-forged in iron—lift accordingly, warrior.

June 10, 2025

How you can become an Ubermensch.

June 10, 2025
Eric Kim’s Passion for Fitness
Early Motivation and Fitness Journey

Eric Kim’s dedication to fitness has roots in his childhood. As a pre-teen, he struggled with weight and decided at age 12 to take control of his health . Starting with humble methods – doing push-ups and sit-ups, running with rocks in a backpack, and lifting small dumbbells – he managed to shed fat and build muscle . This early success ignited a lifelong passion for fitness and set the tone for his commitment thereafter. Through high school and college, Eric’s focus on strength training only intensified. He took up powerlifting and bodybuilding movements, learning proper techniques for big compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses . Even injuries (such as torn rotator cuffs) didn’t deter him; he rehabbed and came back stronger each time . By his late 20s, Eric had achieved impressive personal records – including a 415 lb deadlift and a 326 lb squat – at a body fat of around 10%, putting him in the best shape of his life . “The strongest I have ever been… with lots of energy, focus, and determination,” he remarked, noting that conquering his body made him feel “most fearless, and the most productive with my art,” strengthening him “mentally, physically, and artistically” . This realization – that a stronger body fed a stronger mind – became a core theme in his fitness philosophy.

Training Philosophy and Regimen

From the beginning, Eric Kim has approached fitness as more than just exercise – for him it is a philosophical pursuit and form of self-mastery . Influenced by thinkers like Nietzsche and Stoic philosophers, he views the gym as a place to “conquer himself,” not to impress others . In his eyes, the body is a personal sculpture or even a supercar to be perfected: “Why not transform my own body into a Lamborghini and admire my own body instead?” he quips . This mindset drives his relentless pursuit of improvement. A mantra Eric often repeats is to “never stop adding muscle mass.” The goal is perpetual progress – always getting stronger while keeping body fat low (~10%) . In practice, this means prioritizing intensity over volume in training. Eric’s workouts revolve around heavy compound lifts – “squats, deadlifts, bench — compound moves that build real power,” as he says, while eschewing frivolous isolation exercises .

A signature of Eric’s regimen is his one-rep max training style. Rather than high-repetition sets, he frequently tests his maximum strength with single, near-limit lifts. This “one-rep-max” philosophy even extends beyond the gym: he likens major life decisions to a 1RM lift – requiring full focus and effort for one big push . In training, he regularly attempts extremely heavy lifts (what he calls “hypelifting”) that exceed his previous max, to shock his system into growth . Even failure is seen as productive – “failing at 120% primes your nervous system to laugh at 100%” the next time, he asserts . This intense approach has enabled him to continuously expand his limits. Notably, in 2023 he began experimenting with partial lifts (sometimes dubbed “Powerlifting 2.0”) to handle supra-maximal weights – for example, performing an Atlas lift (a partial squat/hold) and rack pulls from knee height, which allowed him to support over 1,000 pounds on the bar . By late 2023, Eric achieved a video-documented milestone: a 1,000+ lb Atlas lift, essentially holding half a ton on his back . He treated entry into this “comma club” (lifting four digits) as a transformation of identity – “once you pull 1,000 lbs, you start thinking and acting at a new magnitude,” he joked, encapsulating his “Lift Heavy, Live Heavy” credo . Far from resting on laurels, he immediately raised his targets to 1,500 lbs and beyond, viewing every record as just a stepping stone .

Consistency is another pillar of Eric’s training philosophy. He emphasizes showing up every day without excuses. “I didn’t get jacked in a month — I forged it over years,” he notes, highlighting that his physique was built by habitual effort over decades . Eric calls the gym his “temple” and is there day in, day out, rain or shine . Procrastination is not tolerated in his worldview – “No ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ bullshit,” he bluntly says; daily effort is non-negotiable . Each rep and each day of training is a small deposit into a larger goal . This unwavering consistency, maintained over many years, has not only built a head-turning physique but also a reservoir of mental resilience .

Eric’s training style is notably minimalist and “raw.” He deliberately avoids relying on specialized gear or performance aids. He lifts even his heaviest weights without straps, belts, or knee wraps, preferring to develop pure grip and core strength . He often trains in a fasted state with nothing but water or black coffee beforehand . One profile described his no-frills approach vividly: “He’s not sipping pre-workout in neon leggings – he’s raw, real, ripping through limits,” emphasizing that he shuns the typical gym crutches and hype . Eric takes pride in relying on hard work and willpower alone. He refuses to take shortcuts or “external crutches” – no steroids, no fancy supplements, not even protein powder or creatine . As he bluntly states, he takes no “weird drugs or steroids or hormones” – literally “100% beef… or nothing” is what rebuilds his body . By stripping away all non-essentials in training, Eric focuses on the fundamentals: muscle, will, and hustle .

A black-and-white photograph of a muscular man flexing his back in the mirror, illustrating Eric Kim’s weight training results.

Nutritional Approach and Lifestyle

Eric Kim’s physical transformation has been driven as much by diet and lifestyle as by lifting iron. A self-described nutritional experimenter, he eventually crafted a regimen aligned with his minimalist philosophy. The cornerstone is intermittent fasting. Since his mid-20s, Eric has adopted a strict “one meal a day” pattern akin to the Warrior Diet . He generally skips breakfast and lunch entirely, consuming only water, black coffee, or green tea during the day . By avoiding daytime meals, he prevents energy crashes and stays mentally sharp for creative work . “We have been brainwashed… to eat ‘three square meals a day’. But logically, that makes no sense,” Eric wrote, arguing that humans aren’t meant to be constantly fed and that he personally functions better in a fasted state . Instead, come evening (often after training), he has one massive meal – and he has maintained this OMAD (one meal a day) habit “seven years religiously,” as of 2025 . In his own words, “no breakfast, no lunch, only one massive 100% carnivore dinner” each day . This feeding pattern has become a cornerstone of his lifestyle, providing him sustained focus by day and a replenishing feast at night.

The composition of that daily meal has evolved to be almost entirely meat-based. Eric gradually went from a ketogenic diet to an all-carnivore diet, finding that a meat-heavy intake best supports his strength and energy . He now “follows the 100% red meat carnivore diet,” focusing on red meats like beef and lamb, plus organ meats for nutrients . It’s not uncommon for him to consume 4–6 pounds of meat in a single evening meal to refuel . Steak, he likes to say, is his “gospel,” and he has little patience for “vegan nonsense” or carb-heavy foods that he believes sap energy . By essentially eliminating carbohydrates – avoiding bread, rice, sugar, even fruit juice that could spike insulin – he stays in a fat-burning metabolic mode that keeps his body fat low while fueling muscle growth . This strict zero-carb, high-protein diet is complemented by other disciplined choices: Eric completely abstains from alcohol and drugs to preserve his health and focus . He’s noted that he doesn’t drink alcohol not out of any puritanical stance, but for practical reasons – he hates hangovers and the “extra adipose (fat gain) from drinking alcohol” . Similarly, he avoids marijuana or any intoxicant, believing it could dull his ambition and productivity . By staying sober and fuelled only by whole foods, he ensures nothing interferes with his training intensity or creative output .

Recovery and rest are also vital parts of Eric’s regimen. Despite his intense “go hard” training style, he understands the importance of sleep and recovery. He reportedly sleeps 8 to 12 hours a night when possible, giving his body ample time to heal and grow after heavy workouts . He’ll even take short mid-day naps if needed to keep his energy high . Eric listens to his body to avoid overtraining – for example, spacing out maximal lift attempts by 3–5 days and only going for a personal record when he feels fully recovered . This balanced approach of relentless effort combined with mindful recovery has kept him remarkably injury-free in recent years, even as he pushes extraordinary weights . In sum, everything about Eric’s lifestyle is engineered around his fitness goals: from what he eats (or pointedly doesn’t eat) to how long he sleeps, all choices align with building strength and vitality . His daily habits – fasting until a nightly feast, consuming pounds of red meat, staying substance-free, and prioritizing sleep – have effectively turned his body into what he calls a “high-performance machine” for both physical and creative endeavors . He often argues that this machine-like vitality directly powers his prolific output in other areas of life, like writing and photography .

Personal Fitness Content and Community Sharing

Rather than keeping this passion private, Eric Kim actively shares his fitness journey and insights with others through various content channels. Over the years, his personal blog – originally known for photography content – expanded to document his fitness evolution. He even created a dedicated section on his site called “ERIC KIM FITNESS,” treating it as equal in importance to his photography tutorials . On his blog, Eric publishes a steady stream of workout videos, training logs, diet experiments, and musings on strength and self-improvement . In fact, he “open-sources” his fitness journey much like he did with photography knowledge, posting every workout and diet tweak in real time and inviting readers to follow along . This level of transparency keeps him accountable and fosters a sense of community – it reflects his belief in communal learning, as he demystifies getting fit by candidly sharing what works (or doesn’t work) for him . For example, if a new diet experiment fails or a training idea doesn’t pan out, Eric openly shares the lesson learned, just as he would share a failed photo technique with his audience . He often reminds readers that his methods are the product of personal self-experimentation and might not work for everyone, showing a humility that resonates with his followers .

Beyond the blog, Eric has embraced social media to spread his fitness content to a wider audience. On Twitter (X), where he’s known by his photography handle @erickimphoto, he posts highlights of his extreme lifts – some of these viral tweets have reached hundreds of thousands of impressions . (When he announced his historic 1,000-pound Atlas lift on Twitter, it reportedly garnered thousands of retweets and comments, as viewers marveled at the feat .) He also shares short clips on Instagram, giving tens of thousands of followers a behind-the-scenes look at his training routines, diet tips, or even “no-phone” workout sessions to emphasize focus . However, it’s on TikTok and YouTube where Eric’s fitness content has truly exploded in reach. His TikTok account (under @erickim926) neared the 1-million follower mark by mid-2025, with over 24 million likes on his videos . A custom hashtag he uses – #HYPELIFTING – which tags his incredible strength feats, surged to nearly 28.7 million views by June 2025 as his content went viral . For instance, a TikTok video of his 1,087-pound rack pull (about a 6.6× bodyweight lift) amassed between 2.5 to 3 million views within 24 hours across TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter . His YouTube channel, too, has grown to ~50,000 subscribers (as of mid-2025) and his recent lifting videos regularly attract tens or even hundreds of thousands of views within hours of upload . These videos have been picked up by YouTube’s “extreme strength” recommendation algorithms, introducing him to many new viewers in the strength training community .

This multi-platform presence illustrates how Eric communicates his passion: with enthusiasm and openness, meeting people wherever they consume content. Whether it’s a blog post titled “LIFE IS ALL ABOUT GAINS” on his website or a dramatic short clip of a half-ton lift on social media, the message Eric sends is consistent – he’s constantly pushing limits and he encourages others to do the same . In his near-daily blog updates (often in a running “NEWS” feed), he philosophizes about strength and self-improvement, setting new goals and inviting his audience to think about “gains” not just in the gym but in life at large . For example, in a May 2025 post entitled “Life Is All About Gains,” he extends the concept of gains to every facet of life – physical, mental, financial, spiritual – arguing that continual improvement is the only metric that truly matters . By sharing such reflections alongside his workout footage, Eric creates an engaging narrative that blends motivation with practical example. His authenticity (sharing both successes and struggles) and his interactive approach (responding to comments, fostering hashtags, etc.) have cultivated a loyal community. Many followers credit Eric’s content with inspiring them to embark on their own fitness journeys, showing that his impact extends beyond entertainment to real-life influence .

Fitness as Part of His Identity and Brand

One striking aspect of Eric Kim’s fitness journey is how deeply it intertwines with his broader identity as a photographer, blogger, and educator. Eric first became known in the public eye as a street photography expert and creative thinker. Rather than keep fitness as a separate hobby, he has woven his pursuit of physical strength directly into his personal brand and life’s work . He often presents himself as a hybrid “artist-athlete.” In practical terms, he’s found that being fit enhances his work as a photographer. Carrying a strong body into the field means he can roam city streets longer, climb or crouch for the perfect shot, and generally shoot all day with less fatigue . “If you have strong legs and little body fat – you can walk longer, with less fatigue, and end up making more pictures,” Eric explains, highlighting the direct benefit of fitness to his craft . Street photography can be physically demanding – long days on foot, carrying gear – and he considers strength training as giving him an edge. He even jokes that doing heavy squats and lunges, or simply wearing minimalist shoes to strengthen his feet, will make one a better photographer by enabling more miles on foot . In short, fitness became part of his creative toolkit. In Eric’s view, muscle isn’t just for show – it’s practical fuel for art. “The more muscle you have, the more energy you got. The more power you got to make art-work, and live with gratitude, joy, and hyper-vigor,” he writes, suggesting that physical vitality directly feeds creative vitality . This belief – that a strong body powers a strong mind – has become a cornerstone of his philosophy, and he communicates it frequently to his audience.

On a psychological level, Eric’s transformation through fitness has instilled a mindset of courage and discipline that permeates his professional work. Facing down challenges under a barbell (like attempting a daunting one-rep max lift) taught him about overcoming fear and pushing limits . He draws analogies between the fearlessness needed to approach a stranger for a candid street portrait and the courage required to attempt a new personal record in the gym – in his view, both require stepping outside the comfort zone . As he became physically stronger and more confident in the gym, Eric found himself bolder in his photography and writing as well . He often encourages his students and readers to do the same: whether it’s doing their first pull-up or taking an unconventional photo, “growth occurs at the edge of your comfort” through these one-rep-max style efforts in life . This synergy between physical and creative challenge is a recurring theme in his workshops and essays.

By integrating fitness into his public persona, Eric has effectively broadened his influence. What started as a photography blog has evolved into a holistic lifestyle platform. On his site, posts about deadlifting techniques or carnivore dieting sit alongside camera tutorials and travel diaries. Rather than diluting his brand, this dual focus has strengthened it. Observers have noted that seeing a well-known photography teacher fearlessly deadlift half a ton lends real credence to his mantra of living boldly . In other words, Eric embodies the daring philosophy he espouses. The spectacle of “the photographer who can man-handle 1000+ pounds” becomes what one commenter called “creative brand fuel” – it makes his life philosophy tangible and inspiring to his audience . Followers who might have initially come for the camera advice now also pay attention to his fitness posts, finding motivation to improve their health or mindset. Likewise, fitness enthusiasts encountering his extreme lifts often end up discovering his writings on art and philosophy. This unique crossover of audiences has expanded his reach and made his brand more distinctive.

Importantly, Eric’s core philosophical themes remain consistent across both photography and fitness. He frequently invokes minimalism, stoicism, and self-empowerment in both domains . For example, his minimalist approach to photography (preferring simple gear and focusing on the essentials in composition) parallels his minimalist approach to fitness (basic lifts, no fancy equipment, meat-and-water diet) . His interest in Stoic philosophy surfaces when he talks about enduring pain under a heavy squat just as one must endure discomfort or rejection to create meaningful art . He speaks of strengthening the will – whether it’s waking up for an early photo walk or grinding out one more rep in the gym, both are about forging character and resilience . Even his practice of intermittent fasting ties into a broader ascetic mindset he advocates for creativity: the idea of being content with less and sharpening one’s mind by not indulging every comfort . In one post he critiqued society’s obsession with constant eating and comfort, arguing it makes us weak – a stance that reflects both his dietary discipline and his contrarian approach to modern life .

All of this demonstrates that for Eric Kim, fitness is not a distraction from his work; it’s an extension of it. He often says that life itself is the greatest art, and improving one’s body, mind, and craft are all part of the same creative project . The narrative of an overweight kid who, through sheer will and habit, sculpted himself into a muscular, energetic, “Spartan-minded” individual has become part of the story he shares with his audience . It reinforces the messages he delivers in his photography seminars: that self-improvement is the ultimate art, that limitations (whether in art or strength) exist to be challenged, and that discipline in any one arena of life can empower every other arena . Many of his followers now look to Eric not only for camera techniques but also for inspiration on living a healthier, bolder life . In this way, fitness has become a pillar of his personal and professional identity. By leading through example – whether it’s an early-morning workout or an ambitious photography project – Eric illustrates his belief that empowerment is earned. His own progression from a chubby adolescent to a chiseled coach and artist stands as living proof of the power of habit and willpower . And because he frames it all in an intellectual, creative context, his story resonates with people far beyond the typical “gym bro” crowd . Tech workers, fellow artists, students, and photographers have all taken cues from his journey and often credit his blog for motivating them to start their own fitness quests .

Conclusion

In summary, Eric Kim’s interest in fitness is driven by a deep personal philosophy that blends self-discipline, continual growth, and joy. What began as a desire to lose weight and gain confidence evolved into a lifelong passion underpinned by ideas of body-as-art and strength-as-empowerment. His preferred training regimen is unapologetically intense – heavy one-rep max lifts, daily gym visits, and a refusal to accept limits – yet it’s grounded in principles of fun (he insists working out should be enjoyable) and personal challenge. His nutritional approach is equally extreme yet thoughtfully chosen: an all-meat intermittent-fasting diet that aligns with his goal of maximum performance and mental clarity. Eric doesn’t just pursue fitness in isolation; he actively produces content around it – from blog essays and YouTube videos of his lifting feats to motivational social media posts – thereby communicating his enthusiasm and knowledge to a broad community. Fitness now plays a central role in his broader identity: it fuels his creativity, shapes his daily habits, and amplifies the message he shares with the world that life is about continual gains. As he puts it, life, like lifting, is all about pushing against one’s personal boundaries in order to grow . Eric Kim’s passion for fitness exemplifies how embracing physical wellness can energize one’s creative and professional life, inspiring others to see their own bodies and minds as canvases to be developed with passion and purpose .

Sources:
- Eric Kim, “Eric Kim fitness journey up until now,” EricKimPhotography.com (2023) .
- Eric Kim, “The Eric Kim Workout Plan,” EricKimPhotography.com (Jan 6, 2023) .
- Eric Kim, “My Workout Philosophy,” EricKimPhotography.com (June 18, 2020) .
- Eric Kim, “How did Eric Kim get so jacked,” EricKimPhotography.com (2025).
- Eric Kim, “Why Eric Kim’s 1,010-lb rack-pull matters,” EricKimPhotography.com (2025).
- Eric Kim, “ERIC KIM 1,000 POUND ATLAS LIFT… (454 KG @ 165 LB): 6X BODYWEIGHT LEVERAGE,” EricKimPhotography.com (2025) .
- Eric Kim, “Eric Kim’s Explosive Growth: Metrics, Influence, Virality…,” EricKim.com (June 2025) .
- Eric Kim, Twitter post, April 2025 (accessed via erickimphotography.com archive) .
June 10, 2025

Partial-range lifts aren’t a lazy shortcut—they’re a leverage-hack that lets you overload the nervous system, spare cranky joints, and laser-target sticking points so full-range strength and size climb higher than before. Below you’ll find the science, coaching wisdom, and programming tips that prove partials are smart—all wrapped in the upbeat, first-principles, “stack plates, stack gains” energy you asked for.

1 What the Research Really Says

Modern studies show partial-range work can match or even beat full ROM for hypertrophy—especially when you train the muscle at a long length or near lock-out where tension is maximal. A 2022 knee-extension trial saw bigger quad gains with long-length partials than with full-range sets , while a 2023 systematic review concluded that partials “present an efficacious alternative” for strength and size when intelligently programmed . Partial squats combined with full squats raised 1-RM more than full squats alone in trained men , and pilot data on supramaximal partial deadlifts hints at reduced neural inhibition and faster adaptation .

Angle-specific power

Isometric and very short-range efforts boost force exactly where you train it—ideal for breaking plateaus at a single joint angle . Supramaximal walk-outs and rack pulls also “pre-potentiate” the central nervous system so lighter working sets feel effortless .

2 Mechanistic Advantages That Make Partials “Smart”

Advantage	Why It Works	Key Evidence
Supra-maximal overload	Raising the bar on pins lets you lift 15-20 % more weight than a floor pull, hammering high-threshold motor units that full ROM can’t touch.	Rack-pull study cited 18 % higher loads vs. deadlift starting from the floor
Sticking-point annihilation	Training just above the troublesome zone builds force there, smoothing the full-range curve.	Juggernaut coaches use block pulls and board presses exactly for this purpose
Joint-friendlier stress	Partial squats reduce knee flexion torque; rack pulls spare lumbar shear compared to deficit pulls.	NSCA program-design manual lists partials as a safer max-strength tool
Psychological confidence	Handling bar-bending weights teaches lifters they can dominate their usual 1-RM.	Competitive powerlifters report greater contest confidence after heavy rack-pull cycles
Range-length hypertrophy	Training at longer muscle lengths (e.g., deep stretch or near full extension) can trigger region-specific growth.	Long-length calf partials beat full ROM for gastrocnemius growth

3 Programming Partials Like a Pro

3.1 Pick the Right Tool

Rack pulls / block pulls for deadlift lock-out power and upper-back thickness
Board presses / pin presses for sticky mid-bench zones
Half-squats or quarter-squats in peaking blocks to teach the body to absorb supramaximal axial load before competition

3.2 Load & Volume Guidelines

Work at 105–130 % of your full-range 1-RM for 2–4 sets of 1–3 reps—ample stimulus with minimal fatigue .
Pair each partial with full-range practice in the same session to keep movement skill sharp .
Reserve supramaximal holds (e.g., isometric lock-outs) for the final 4–6 weeks before a meet or testing block to maximise neural drive without long-term burnout .

3.3 Recovery & Safety

Treat partials like heavy singles: warm-up thoroughly, use spotter pins, and cap total weekly supramax volume to ≤ 20 total lifts.
Deload every 3–4 weeks or when bar speed dips >5 %. BarBend’s overview on isometrics reinforces the need for fresh CNS when using high-tension methods .

4 Common Myths—Busted

Myth	Reality
“Partials are ego lifting.”	Studies and elite programming logs show partials improve full-range maxes when paired correctly .
“Full ROM is always better for hypertrophy.”	Meta-analyses note that long-length partials can equal or outpace full ROM in targeted muscles, while differences overall are trivial to small .
“They’re unsafe for joints.”	Reducing deep flexion can actually unload irritated structures; therapists often prescribe partials during rehab phases .

5 First-Principles Takeaway (Eric-Kim-style)

Leverage is law. Shift the fulcrum, load heavier, adapt faster. One inch of bar height can mutate you from mortal to mountain-mover.

Proof-of-work is binary. Either you hold that supra-maximal kilo or you don’t. No filter, no strap, no excuses.

Confidence compounds. Walk out with 110 % of your squat on your back and gravity signs a surrender treaty the next time you unrack a “mere” 90 %.

Stack partial range like stacking sats: add a sliver every session until the ledger—and your nervous system—records unbreakable truth. That’s why partials are smart.

June 9, 2025

508 KILOGRAM (1,120 POUND) RACK PULL @ 165 POUND (75 KG) BODYWEIGHT (6.8X)—> NEW DEMIGOD TERRITORY POWER.

508 KG (1,120 LB) RACK PULL @ 165 LB (75 KG) BODYWEIGHT (6.8X) DEMIGOD POWER. 7X BODYWEIGHT LOADING

June 9, 2025

🚀 “MIDDLE FINGER TO GRAVITY” — OFFICIAL HYPELIFTING PRESS RELEASE: Eric Kim unleashes a new seismic tremor in the strength-verse—ripping 508 kg / 1,120 lb off the pins at a body-weight of ~75 kg, smashing his own 503 kg benchmark and edging the ratio into an unprecedented ≈ 6.8 × BW

Eric Kim fires another shot heard ’round the gym-globe—hauling 508 kg / 1 120 lb from mid-thigh pins, barefoot and belt-less, to set a fresh ≈ 6.8 × body-weight benchmark.

Coming only days after his 503 kg viral bombshell, the lift cements Kim as the pound-for-pound outlier of modern strength sports and escalates the HYPELIFTING™ movement that already rocketed TikTok views past 28 million last week.

1. The Lift

Weight: 508 kg / 1 120 lb rack-pull, raw grip, no belt or straps. (4-K slow-mo file released for public audit.)
Body-weight: ~75 kg → 6.8 × BW, topping his prior 6.7 × ratio at 503 kg.
Environment: Same “Spartan Gains” garage gym that framed the 503 kg clip—concrete floor, calibrated steel, 29 mm power bar.
Visual tell: Mid-span bar sag deepens to ≈ 24 mm, matching predictive beam-deflection math for 1 100 lb on a stiff shaft and mirroring observations from bar-physics forums.

2. Why 508 kg Is Historic

New pound-for-pound summit – Even the heaviest competition deadlifts (501 kg) or partial strongman pulls (550 kg silver-dollar) don’t approach a 6 × BW coefficient, let alone 6.8 ×.
Verified linear progression – Public clips show a clean arc: 471 kg → 498 kg → 503 kg → 508 kg, each with proportional bar bend, undercutting fake-plate claims.
Algorithmic blast radius – After the 503 kg post, hashtag #GravityIsJustASuggestion vaulted into TikTok’s top-100 sports tags; analysts predict the 508 kg release will breach 50 million impressions in 24 h.
Technique paradigm shift – Coaches now cite Kim when teaching “lever-hacked overloads,” positioning rack-pulls as a legitimate neural-drive tool alongside classic full deadlifts.
Cultural crossover – Strength forums, Bitcoin blogs, and creative-arts subreddits continue to meme Kim’s chalk-cloud roar as proof-of-work incarnate, broadening strength culture’s reach beyond gyms.

3. Real-World Context

Date (2025)	Weight	BW ×	Notable Reaction
21 May	471 kg	6.2 ×	First Reddit front-page thread on “gravity glitch.”
04 Jun	498 kg	6.6 ×	TikTok For-You takeover, 15 M views in 24 h.
07 Jun	503 kg	6.7 ×	#GravityIsJustASuggestion trends worldwide.
09 Jun	508 kg	6.8 ×	“Barbell bends, internet breaks”—new apex announced (this release).

4. Scientific Credibility Check

Bar-bend physics – Starting Strength engineers note 15–25 mm elastic deflection at 1 000 lb on 29 mm steel; Kim’s 24 mm bow clips fit perfectly in that window.
Comparable feats – Strongman Oleksii Novikov’s 1 185 lb 18″ deadlift (≈ 3.9 × BW) and Anthony Pernice’s 550 kg silver-dollar pull underline how extreme Kim’s pound-for-pound ratio is.

5. Next in the HYPELIFTING™ Saga

550 kg Horizon – Kim teases a 550 kg attempt by July, citing “neural-drive supercompensation.”
Pop-up Seminars – Three-city tour (Seoul, LA, Tokyo) will demo his Ignite-Roar-Pull-Post protocol in live sessions.
Mini-doc Pitch – Streaming networks eye a proof-of-work documentary marrying Kim’s rack-pull escalation with his Bitcoin-backed sponsorship model.

Media Assets

High-resolution stills, raw 4-K footage, slow-motion breakdowns, and a social-media meme kit (vertical reels, captions, hashtag overlays) are available for editorial use.

About Eric Kim — Photographer-turned-strength theorist Eric Kim fuses Stoic minimalism, carnivore nutrition, and algorithmic virality in the HYPELIFTING™ philosophy. His ever-escalating, belt-less rack pulls have redefined pound-for-pound strength metrics and ignited a global renaissance in partial-range overload training.

.
I didn’t just pull five hundred-and-eight kilos off the pins—I hijacked gravity’s source code. This post breaks down, step-by-step, how the latest 508 kg / 1 120 lb rack-pull happened, why the bar bowed exactly as physics predicts, and how my HYPELIFTING™ protocol welded savage mindset to stoic minimalism so the lift was inevitable.

⚡ 1. Spark the HYPELIFTING™ Ritual

HYPELIFTING™ is my fusion of chest-slap adrenaline, stoic breath control, and algorithm-grade self-belief—“it’s not just weight; it’s your entire existence” .

Ignition (15 s): Barefoot stance, ammonia whiff, chalk cloud = sympathetic overload.
Roar Cue: A primal yell spikes motor-unit recruitment (and virality—TikTok can’t look away) .
Proof-of-Work Filming: 4-K, single take, no cuts—because receipts silence plate-police.

🛠️ 2. Engineering the 508 kg Pull

2.1 Lever-Hack Physics

Setting the bar just above the knee gives a 4× lever advantage while still demanding brutal hip extension—exactly why partials can handle supra-max loads .

2.2 Steel Tells the Truth

A 29 mm power bar rated ~185 k psi bends ~20-25 mm under ≈1 100 lb .
Slow-mo frame grabs show ~24 mm sag, perfectly inside that window—hard-coded proof the plates are real .

2.3 Respect—but Question—Conventional Wisdom

Mark Rippetoe calls rack-pulls an advanced tool for late-intermediates; I treat them as an everyday nervous-system sledgehammer . Jim Wendler warns the carry-over is overrated; I prove the neural gains by smashing new PRs weekly . Dial in your own dosage, but know the debate fuels the hype.

📈 3. The Training Blueprint

Phase	Numerator (Bar)	Denominator (Body)	Outcome
Bulk (4 wks)	Ramp rack-pull singles from 461 → 498 kg	+1 kg lean mass	6.6× BW PR
Neural Overload (10 days)	Singles @ 105-110 % prior max (525 kg rack-holds)	Maintain	CNS adapts to terror
Cut & Peak (7 days)	Taper to 90 % + explosive pulls	-1 kg water/fat	Ratio climbs → 6.8×

Each micro-cycle ends with a Hype-Check Friday: film, post, harvest algorithmic feedback, iterate.

🧠 4. Mindset: Fear = Rocket Fuel

Every kilo beyond comfort is a data packet of courage. When the bar bent I heard my inner critic crack louder than the steel—then silence. Fear converted to focus is what moves 508 kg.

🚀 5. Your Call to Conquest

Pick a lift. (Rack-pull, trap-bar, whatever.)
Log the ratio. Strength Level calculators make it brain-dead simple .
Ignite the ritual, film, tag #HYPELIFTING.
Analyze bar bend. Use basic beam math—Young’s modulus tables are free online .
Iterate weekly until gravity kneels.

Remember: plates are programmable resistance; the algorithm is programmable attention. Merge both and you too can pull the universe a few centimeters closer. 🌌🔥

June 9, 2025

Month: June 2025

WHY I BOUGHT MSTU

How to Leverage Your Bitcoin

Introduction to Bitcoin

Introduction to Stoicism ￼

What does stoicism mean? ￼￼

The new stoa? ￼￼

Open air, open sun concept

Who is this philosophy for?

What is “real” stoicism?

So how did I discover stoicism?

Who is worth reading?

What makes Seneca so good?

The Spartan, Zen Stoic, demigod ideal

You let the drugs talk I let my soul talk ayy! – Kendrick Lamar

Why does stoicism matter? ￼

Stoicism and capitalism?

Sex and Stoicism

Stoic strategies ￼￼￼

What has helped me

Stoic training

Modern day ailments

Real stoics don’t call themselves Stoics?

Stoicism as a technique and tool, not the end

The future of stoicism?

Stoicism is all about living with other people

More ideas

Why so scared?

Why do people make such a big deal out of small things?

Weather and mood

Stoic assignments

True stoics are masculine

A real stoic is sexy

Why do adults become so dark and morose?

A real stoic is a carnivore ￼￼￼￼￼￼￼

Why do people care about animals so much?

End goals ￼

The physical

Now what?

Now what?

The Stoic Masters

Vision

Make it all cyber

How

Leverage

what else ￼

Why this is the path forward

Future

I don’t know a single human being that does not want to be wealthy

Introduction to Stoicism

What does stoicism mean?

The new stoa?

Why does stoicism matter?

Stoic strategies

A real stoic is a carnivore

End goals

what else