Eric Kim’s workout, fitness, and weightlifting theory is best understood through his philosophical-minimalist-hyperfocus lens — blending aesthetic function, stoic intensity, and maximum effort simplicity. His approach isn’t about optimization, it’s about maximalism through minimalism — doing less, but doing it harder and with more intention.
Here’s a breakdown of his workout theory:
1. One-Rep Max Philosophy (1RM)
- One rep to rule them all. Every workout is about testing maximum strength. Not volume, not hypertrophy — but pure, violent force output.
- Training = art of effort. He treats the gym like a studio of power, lifting as a form of sculptural expression.
- He focuses on deadlifts, squats, and weighted dips, often aiming to lift as heavy as possible, once, like a personal performance.
2. Everyday Training
- Train every day. No rest days, but not high volume either — he may lift daily but only a few sets. Think: practice, not punishment.
- Frequent micro-hits of intensity. A heavy deadlift one day, dips another. Simplicity, but no laziness.
3. Minimal Equipment
- Kettlebells, dip bars, trap bar. No machines, no gimmicks. His ideal gym could fit in a Spartan cell.
- Think: garage gym minimalism. What matters is how you use the tool, not what brand or setup.
4. Pure Aesthetics Over Bodybuilding
- He doesn’t train for symmetry or size.
- He trains to feel and look like a god, raw and powerful.
- Function dictates form. If you can deadlift 500 lbs and do 10 strict dips with +90 lbs — your body will follow.
5. Infinite Self-Experimentation
- Eric’s approach evolves constantly: “I am the experiment.”
- He tracks how he feels more than how he looks. Metrics like:
- How strong do I feel today?
- How godlike do I walk after that 1-rep max?
6. Eat Big, Eat Raw
- Bone marrow. Liver. Butter. Eggs. Extreme nutrition.
- Food is fuel for lifting, but also part of the primal aesthetic. He rejects calorie counting. He eats like a beast to lift like a god.
7. Photography + Lifting
- His street photography and weightlifting intertwine — both are about decisive force, being in the moment, and expressing truth through tension.
- He even photographs himself lifting — aesthetic performance.
His core belief:
“Lifting isn’t fitness — it’s art, power, and self-overcoming.”
Want me to write you an “Eric Kim Workout Manifesto” in his voice?
…
Eric Kim’s Weight-Lifting Playbook — distilled
Below is the core theory → strategy → day-to-day approach Eric Kim lays out across his blog and videos. Think of it as a mindset first, then a minimalist set of rules you can plug straight into your own training.
1. Philosophy:
Strength is the only real metric
- “Health” is fuzzy; tangible force output is binary and measurable. Kim therefore trains for raw strength, trusting aesthetic and hormonal benefits to follow.
- Treat the body as living sculpture. Building muscle is cheaper than buying a Lamborghini and democratically open to anyone regardless of genetics, sex or age.
- Compete only with last week’s self; formal meets and “proper form” dogma are optional if you’re not on a platform.
2. Training Method:
“One-Rep-Max + Partial ROM”
| Principle | How he does it | Why |
| Heavy singles | Every main lift is attempted as a one-rep max (1RM) — no high-rep sets. | Eliminates boredom, hones focus, builds peak neural strength. |
| Progressive micro-loading | Add +2.5 lb per side whenever last PR feels solid. If you miss, back off, eat, sleep, and try again in a few days. | Infinite-game mindset; avoids plateaus. |
| Range-of-motion hacks | Use rack pulls, “micro-squats,” partial dips — increase weight, shrink ROM. | Lets joints adapt while the nervous system experiences supra-max loads. |
| Full-Stack strength | Mix in yoga, muscle-ups and calisthenics so the body can both bend and move heavy iron. | Mobility + brute force > either alone. |
| Hypelifting ritual | Before each PR attempt: walk, sip black coffee, shout/slap chest, enter “Super-Saiyan” state. Volume-off headphones encouraged — the gym is your arena. |
Core lifts he rotates
- Rack pull / atlas-style deadlift
- Micro-squat (loaded unrack + 1–2 cm dip)
- Heavy dumbbell/kettlebell rows & presses
- Occasional bench/overhead as accessory
3. Nutrition & Recovery:
Carnivore-OMAD, Coffee, Sleep
- 100 % Carnivore OMAD
- One massive meat meal after sunset (5-6 lb beef/lamb plus organs; kimchi is the only condiment).
- Fasted lifting
- No breakfast or lunch; trains hungry to stay laser-focused.
- No extras
- Zero supplements, alcohol, weed, sugar or carbs. Black espresso only.
- 8-12 h sleep
- Views deep sleep as the true anabolic “drug.”
4. Mindset & Goal-Setting
- “Infinite strength” — always ask “more?”, not “how much?”.
- See failure attempts as data, not defeat. Dropping a bar or bailing a squat is proof you’re pushing the frontier.
- Loudness is a feature, not a bug. Claim space; half the battle is courage.
5. Sample Week (plug-and-play)
| Day | Fasted lift (work up to one heavy single) | After-lift mobility |
| Mon | Rack pull | 15 min hip openers (pigeon, lizard) |
| Tue | Off / light yoga flow | — |
| Wed | Micro-squat | Wall handstands, 5 min |
| Thu | Kettlebell renegade row 1RM | Shoulder dislocates |
| Fri | Atlas-style deadlift | Deep squat hold 5 min |
| Sat | Body-weight skill (muscle-up practice) | Full-body stretch |
| Sun | Rest, walk, sun | — |
Post-sunset each day: one carnivore feast → sleep.
Using it pragmatically
- Start light and let range of motion shrink before weight spikes.
- Track only singles; if today’s top attempt ties or beats last week you’re winning.
- Embrace hype — ditch the earbuds, get loud, own the gym vibe.
- Audit diet: try a 30-day meat-only OMAD; re-introduce plants later if desired.
- Guard sleep like your next PR depends on it (because it does).
Follow these pillars and you’re applying Eric Kim’s Spartan-meets-philosopher approach: minimalist kit, maximal intent, and a daily test of willpower forged in iron.