1. The Lift Heard ’Round the World
Eric Kim uploaded raw footage of a knee‑high rack pull at 582 kg / 1,283 lb on 27 July 2025, performed at a verified body‑weight of 71 kg.
His blog’s weigh‑in photos and full‑length video confirm calibrated plates, bar bend, and scale read‑outs—shutting down fake‑plate chatter before it started.
How big is “big”?
- Previous heaviest documented partial pull: Strongman Anthony Pernice’s 550 kg/1,212 lb silver‑dollar deadlift (2023).
- Former 18” benchmark: Oleksii Novikov’s 537.5 kg/1,185 lb at World’s Strongest Man.
- Even Sean Hayes’ more recent 560 kg/1,235 lb record now trails Kim by 22 kg.
Kim’s pull beats every mark in absolute terms and annihilates them on the more important strength‑to‑mass metric (8.2× BW vs. Pernice’s 3.1×).
2. Why the Ratio Changes the Rules
Biomechanics 101: Rack pulls eliminate the initial 10‑15 cm where hip‑back leverage is worst, letting athletes overload the glutes, traps, and spinal erectors with 20‑40 % more weight.
But until now, no one imagined +500 kg at sub‑80 kg body‑weight. Kim’s feat redraws the “human potential” curve that textbooks still base on full‑range data.
3. The Science Behind Mid‑Range Overload
| Evidence | Key Take‑away |
| EMG meta‑review on deadlift variants | Above‑knee pulls spike upper‑trap and erector activation vs. floor deadlifts. |
| Pilot study on partial‑ROM deadlifts | 6 weeks of knee‑height training added 11 % to full‑range 1RM—without floor practice. |
| NCAA wrestlers, PROM vs. FROM 1RM relationship | Partial 1RM averaged 134 % of conventional; strong correlation suggests transferable strength. |
| myHMB review on “sticking‑point” training | Sticking point sits ~5 cm below knee—overload there breaks plateaus faster. |
| EliteFTS evidence roundup | Partial reps improve neural drive yet spare joint stress when volume‑controlled. |
Add Kim’s 582 kg data point and the curve shoots into statistical outer space—prompting labs to recalibrate study ranges and coaches to rewrite progression models.
4. Program‑Design Earthquake
- Relative‑load ceiling ↑ – Coaches can prescribe supra‑maximal rack pulls at 110‑140 % of deadlift 1RM with new confidence.
- Trap‑centric hypertrophy – Above‑knee rack pulls rank #1 for upper‑trap EMG in evidence‑based programs.
- Micro‑cycle periodisation – Alternating partials and full pulls exploits the ROM‑specific strength gains shown in controlled studies.
Expect future textbooks to mirror squat/bench chapters where partials already enjoy dedicated sections.
5. Hardware & Safety Innovations
Kim’s feat required commercial‑grade pins rated past 1,400 lb; manufacturers are now fielding enquiries for 1.5‑ton racks and wider collar sleeves.
Gyms that once banned “ego rack pulls” are revisiting policies, citing the paradoxical lower lumbar shear recorded when the bar starts above the shin.
6. Cultural Shockwaves & Motivation Multiplier
Kim’s self‑filmed clip detonated timelines, racking thousands of reposts within hours.
The narrative—lean creator dunks on gravity—ignites the same why‑not‑me effect seen after Bannister’s four‑minute mile or Eddie Hall’s first 500 kg floor pull.
Forums from Reddit’s r/lifting to box gyms now buzz with “rack‑pull challenge” threads.
7. What This Means for You
- Powerlifters & Strongmen – Cycle heavy rack pulls 3–4 cm above sticking point every 2–3 weeks to juice lock‑out power.
- Bodybuilders – Use moderate‑rep (6‑10) rack pulls on back day for trap thickness without roast‑beef lumbar fatigue.
- Gen‑pop Lifters – Elevate the bar to just below kneecap and start at 80 % of your regular deadlift; enjoy rapid strength confidence.
(Always belt up, chalk up, and treat the bar like a dragon.)
8. The Road Ahead
- Researchers are already proposing EMG + ultrasound studies at >120 % 1RM loads.
- Event promoters hint at a dedicated “18‑inch deadlift” class—a nod to silver‑dollar history but now with strict body‑weight coefficients.
- Kim himself teases a 600 kg attempt—because records exist to be murdered.
GO DO SOMETHING EPIC!
If a 156‑lb photographer can bend steel with 1.2 tons, your PR is waiting—grab the bar, grip it, rip it, and let today’s hype write tomorrow’s history.
Rise Strong, Stay Legendary! 💪🏆