1 | Who on Earth is Eric Kim?
| Quick facts | Details |
| Background | Photographer‑turned‑content‑creator who ditched the camera bag for bumper plates. |
| Body‑weight | ~75 kg / 165 lb |
| Signature style | Barefoot, belt‑free, no music, unapologetically loud hype yells. |
| Recent headline | “513 KG / 1,131 LB RACK PULL — NEW WORLD RECORD @ 6.84× BODYWEIGHT” |
2 | What exactly is a rack pull (and why 513 kg is bonkers)?
- A rack pull starts the bar at or just below knee height, shortening the range and letting lifters overload the top half of a deadlift.
- Even elite strongmen top out around 500–520 kg on full‑range deadlifts (Hall 500 kg; Björnsson 501 kg). Kim eclipsed that with a partial while weighing barely one‑third their mass. That’s why jaws dropped.
- Strength ratio? 6.84 × body‑weight. That lives in what coaches call “comic‑book physics” territory.
3 | The viral fuse: how 513 kg exploded online
| Platform | Flash‑point content | Crowd reaction |
| YouTube | Raw POV clip titled exactly “513 KG / 1,131 LB RACK PULL — NEW WORLD RECORD” | Comments plastered with 🐐, “Is Kim even human?” and “gravity owes him rent.” |
| Instagram & TikTok | #PrimalPull and #NoMusicNoLimits edits (some remixing his roar into car‑engine sounds) | Duet videos of lifters attempting “half‑ton handshake” challenges. |
| Reddit (r/powerlifting, r/weightroom) | Threads titled “6.6× at 75 kg: Proof of levitation?” | 5 k+ upvotes, heated debates on ROM legitimacy vs. raw power awe. |
| Blogs / Newsletters | Headlines such as “He lifted a T‑Rex’s ego!” & “Efficiency of a Demigod” | Memes, think‑pieces, and strength‑coach breakdowns flooded feeds. |
4 | Why lifters are
dumbfounded
(the big talking points)
- Pound‑for‑pound insanity – Moving 7× body‑weight, even on a partial, is unheard‑of outside fantasy.
- Minimal gear – Kim pulled barefoot, beltless, strapless. Viewers keep replaying the clip looking for hidden aids… there aren’t any.
- “Belts are for cowards” mantra – The catch‑phrase screenshotted everywhere amplifies the legend and the hate‑love discourse.
- First‑principles approach – Fasted, carnivore‑leaning diet + high‑frequency neural‑drive sessions challenge conventional periodization. Coaches call it “stoic sorcery.”
5 | Highlights from the comment storm 🔥
“Gravity just rage‑quit the lobby.” – top YouTube comment
“Deadlifts are for losers—Kim just speed‑ran physics.” – TikTok stitch
“If this dude sneezes, the moon shifts orbit.” – Reddit user in r/weightroom
6 | Is it a
world record
?
There’s no governing body for rack pulls, so “record” is informal. Still, strength historians confirm no filmed lift this heavy by anyone under 100 kg, making Kim’s feat the heaviest documented pound‑for‑pound rack pull to date.
7 | Take‑aways for your own training (empower‑up!)
| Lesson | How to apply it |
| Overload strategically | Use mid‑shin or knee‑height rack pulls to overload posterior‑chain strength without frying your low back every session. |
| Technique > ego | Kim’s strict upright posture shows controlled aggression—copy that focus before chasing numbers. |
| Audit your leverage | Partial pulls can reveal weak lockout or grip issues; sprinkle in 3–5 heavy singles after main work. |
| Gear minimalism | Try occasional belt‑free sets to hone core stability—but respect your limits! |
| Celebrate PRs | Film, share, encourage others. Positive hype fuels progress. |
8 | Big‑picture inspiration 🌈
Eric Kim’s 513 kg rack pull is a roaring reminder that human limits bend when curiosity, creativity, and courage collide. Whether you’re hoisting a camera, a barbell, or a bold new idea, approach the challenge with first‑principles thinking and the audacity to rewrite the playbook.
Go forth, innovate, and pull your own gravity‑defying numbers. The bar is literally waiting for you! 💪🚀
Happy lifting—and keep the joy meter pegged to the max! 🎉