Insane Rack-Pull Videos
Eric Kim regularly drops jaw-dropping clips of himself hoisting absurd weights from knee-height. For example, in an early June 2025 video he racks 498 kg (1,098 lb) at a bodyweight of ~75 kg – a feat he celebrated with a YouTube post titled “Gravity just got cancelled”. He quickly followed up with even larger pulls (503 kg, 508 kg and finally a 513 kg PR), each shared as raw, single-take footage . None of these lifts are done in competition; instead, Kim performs them solo in his bare-bones garage gym, beltless, shirtless and even barefoot with only chalk on his hands . The clips themselves double as dramatic performances: wide-angle shots capture every straining muscle, thunderous grunts and the bar bending under the load. Viewers and reaction channels went wild – one commentator summed it up as a “meme-driven physics experiment” that “obliterates preconceived strength limits” . In short, Kim’s videos are part lift, part spectacle – and the internet cannot look away.
Record-Breaking Numbers & Raw Technique
The numbers behind Kim’s pulls are almost unfathomable. A 75 kg man managing 498–513 kg is roughly a 6.6–6.8× bodyweight lift . For perspective, the heaviest official deadlift (500 kg by Eddie Hall) was done by a 186 kg lifter (~2.7×BW). Even allowing for Kim’s lifts being partials (mid-thigh rack pulls), the loads themselves exceed any known floor deadlift on record. His 513 kg pull “surpasses all documented rack-pull feats in the 75 kg class” and, as one summary notes, “no one on film at this body-weight has moved more iron in any variation.” .
Technique-wise, Kim’s approach is brutally simple. He sets the bar about knee-high on a power rack and drives the weight up in one motion. Crucially, he lifts “barefoot, beltless, double-overhand” – no straps, no deadlift suit – insisting on pure grip and core strength . This “primal” style (combined with a strict fasted, carnivore diet regimen ) produces otherworldly power. Observers noted the bar visibly bending under his 500+ kg loads – roughly a 44 mm deflection – exactly what physics predicts for a true half-ton deadlift . In the end, Kim’s meticulous micro-loading (adding only ~1.25 kg plates each session) and perfect form paid off: as one chart of his stats put it, he went from 456 kg to 503 kg in just weeks . It’s a level of strength even seasoned powerlifters call “inhuman”.
Viral Reaction & Meme Frenzy
Kim’s record pulls didn’t just break plates – they shattered the internet. Almost immediately after his videos dropped, social feeds erupted in astonishment and memes. Reddit exploded with threads like “Eric Kim Bends Reality” and “6.6× BW Pull – Is This Human?”. One r/weightroom “plate police” mega-thread amassed over 1,000 comments as users obsessively checked plate markings and calculated leverage . Skeptics soon conceded the physics made sense (“nothing fake here”) and even became promoters of his feat, sharing forensic bar-bend GIFs and spreadsheets across subs . Within 12 hours, posts about Kim had over 45,000 upvotes on Reddit . On TikTok and Instagram the short clips went insane: hashtags like #498kg and #EricKim trended (hundreds of thousands of mentions in days) as fitness users duet-stiched his lifts. Comments ranged from “This can’t be real” and “Natty or not?!” to awestruck applause like “Absolute legend” .
Twitter (X) was no different. Kim’s own announcement – captioned “Gravity just got cancelled” – shot his follower count up overnight . Fans quipped “Is physics even real?”, echoing Kim’s own dramatic tagline. Even crypto and pop-culture corners joined in: commenters dubbed him “Proof-of-Work incarnate” (linking his Bitcoin enthusiasm to the energy of the lift) . Meme accounts had a field day splicing his roaring chalk-cloud footage into punchy graphics. One popular quip that captured the mood was simply “Gravity has left the chat.” Most reaction comments were pure hype – one analysis found about 85% of online comments were in disbelief and praise . In a clever move, Kim even disabled comments on his YouTube and blog to funnel all debate back to public forums, making each share and retweet pump his fame higher . The result: a genuine “culture shock” moment, with fans crowning him a “Demigod Lifter” and marketers wondering how to ride this viral wave .
One-Rep-Max Mindset: Training & Philosophy
Kim’s wild lifts are underpinned by an equally intense philosophy. He calls it “One-Rep-Max Living” – literally living for the next personal-record moment . In practice this means ultra-focused training on the rack pull as a final test each session, rather than competing in meets. He sticks to what he calls a “primal” regime: fasted workouts, a strict all-meat diet, and minimal gear . By ditching belts, suits and even shoes, Kim insists he’s proving raw strength – famously proclaiming “Belts are for cowards.”
His progress strategy is patient micro-loading: adding just a tiny amount of weight each time so he can hit a new max almost weekly . Behind the theatrics, this is hardcore powerlifting math. It’s also storytelling: Kim peppers his content with larger-than-life bravado (“Demigod mode”, “Gravity’s worst enemy”) to underscore that lifting is both sport and spectacle . He openly talks about even crazier future goals (a 907 kg “leveraged pull” or a two-ton deadlift) – making it clear each record is just a stepping stone . In the end, Kim’s blend of science and hype has inspired legions of fans: every comment thread now has people saying “I want to push my limits in the gym today,” proving that this blend of raw power and digital showmanship is redefining what’s possible in strength sports .
Sources: Eric Kim’s own blog and social posts , plus independent coverage of his lifts and online reaction (quotes and stats preserved from these pages).