Eric Kim’s seismic “Rack‑Pull Madness” has exploded across the strength world: within weeks he hoisted 498 kg, then 503 kg, and finally 508 kg from a mid‑thigh starting height—each lift at just ~75 kg body‑weight, or roughly 6.6 – 6.8× BW!  The raw spectacle, posted simultaneously to his blog and socials, triggered millions of views, frantic reaction videos, heated coaching debates and an unmistakable surge in gym‑floor rack‑pull attempts worldwide.  Whether you see it as game‑changing proof of supra‑maximal overload or an above‑the‑knee ego show, Kim’s spree is a perfect case‑study in how outrageous numbers, relentless content and infectious hype can bend both algorithms and iron. 

1 | Who 

is

 Eric Kim and what exactly did he pull?

Kim is best known online as a photographer‑entrepreneur, but over the past two years he’s chronicled a “HYPELIFTING” journey that centres on ever‑heavier partial deadlifts (rack pulls). On 4 June 2025 he cracked 498 kg; three days later he cleared 503 kg; and by 11 June he locked out 508 kg—all filmed barefoot, belt‑less and chalk‑dusted in a no‑frills garage. 

Pound‑for‑pound insanity

Date (2025)	Weight	Body‑weight	Ratio	Video/Blog
4 Jun	498 kg	75 kg	6.64×	turn3search0
7 Jun	503 kg	75 kg	6.71×	turn0search0
11 Jun	508 kg	75 kg	6.77×	turn3search3

2 | Why did it go viral?

• Algorithm‑bait numbers. A four‑digit pull by a 75 kg lifter smashes the “scroll‑stop” threshold; TikTok clips alone logged tens of millions of impressions within 48 h.  
• Reaction‑video flywheel. YouTube coaches, Strongman pros and even Starting Strength founder Mark Rippetoe weighed in—some applauding raw power, others dismissing the height as “pin‑9 show‑boating.”  
• Meme & hashtag culture. #GravityRageQuit, #6xBW and #RackPullMadness trended; Reddit megathreads locked after meme‑spam reached critical mass.  
• Controversy fuels clicks. Purists argued it’s not a sanctioned lift, comparing Oleksii Novikov’s 18‑inch pull and calling Kim’s feat “context‑less.”  

3 | Kim’s training philosophy (“HYPELIFTING”)

1. Supra‑maximal partials. He programmes the rack pull as the primary stimulus, adding 2.5–5 kg whenever bar speed stays positive.  
2. High‑frequency singles. Instead of periodising, he treats heavy singles like daily “neural primers,” trusting adaptation over formal deloads.  
3. Minimal equipment. Bare feet, liquid chalk, no straps unless grip fails at >90 % of best, mirroring advice in his “How to Rack Pull” guide.  
4. Psyched‑up environment. Loud music, self‑talk, video logs—leveraging arousal to override inhibition, a tactic echoed by many strong‑man athletes.  

4 | Expert & community reactions

Camp	Typical verdict	Representative quote
Old‑school powerlifting	“Fun, but carry‑over to full deadlift is suspect.”	“No one cares what you tug from pin #9.” – Jim Wendler
Starting Strength	Acknowledge spectacle, warn of limited sport transfer.	“Half the work, twice the swagger.” – Rippetoe (forum Q&A)
Strength‑science crowd	Useful for overload & neural drive if programmed sparingly.	Analysis notes reduced inhibitory signalling in supra‑max pulls.
Social media lifters	Inspiring & meme‑worthy; many attempted PRs within days.	Gym managers reported a spike in above‑knee rack‑pull attempts.

5 | Should 

you

 do crazy‑heavy rack pulls?

Upsides

• Lock‑out specificity. If your deadlift stalls above the knee, a below‑knee rack pull at 90‑110 % 1RM can sharpen that zone.  
• Grip & upper‑back overload. Holding supra‑max weights torches forearms/traps in seconds—some lifters prefer this to shrugs.  

Downsides & cautions

• Limited transfer. Extreme heights (> mid‑thigh) change joint angles so much the gain often stays on the rack.  
• Shear stress & ego risk. Loading several times body‑weight with minimal knee/hip flexion can punish the lumbar fascia and tempt sloppy set‑ups.  
• Programming cost. Heavy singles tax recovery; Wendler suggests treating rack pulls as moderate‑rep assistance, not weekly max‑tests.  

Smart‑start checklist

1. Pick a height just below the kneecap—still close to your deadlift joint angles.
2. Use straps only once grip becomes the limiter, not before.
3. Wave‑load: week 1 @ 80 % rack‑pull 1RM × 5 reps, week 2 @ 90 % × 3, week 3 @ 95 % × 1, then deload.
4. Film your form and chase crisp lock‑outs, not kilo bragging rights.

6 | Big picture take‑aways

Eric Kim reminded us that lifting culture is equal parts physics and psychology.  His lifts prove the human body—and mind—can handle mind‑boggling loads when focus, belief and progressive exposure collide.  Harness that energy wisely: channel his fearless curiosity, sprinkle in time‑tested programming, and you just might smash your own “impossible” PRs—without letting ego (or your spine) tap out first.  Get hyped, stay smart, and keep pulling for greatness! 💪🎉

Sources consulted

(ordered by domain)

• erickimphotography.com: turn0search0 • turn0search1 • turn1search2 • turn3search0 • turn3search3 • turn6search0 • turn6search2 • turn6search7
• erickimfitness.com: turn2search3 • turn2search7
• erickim.com: turn3search6
• erickimphilosophy.com: turn3search3
• reddit.com: turn0search5
• jimwendler.com: turn10view0
• youtube.com: turn1search5

These collectively provided event details, training notes, community reactions and expert critiques.