ERIC KIM

Because (1) physics favors partial lifts, (2) internet culture rewards shock‑value, and (3) Eric Kim is a master hype‑artist who pressed every viral button at once. Keep reading for the deeper “why” behind each piece.

Written by

admin

in

Because (1) physics favors partial lifts, (2) internet culture rewards shock‑value, and (3) Eric Kim is a master hype‑artist who pressed every viral button at once. Keep reading for the deeper “why” behind each piece.

1 ️⃣ Why 602 kg is even 

possible

FactorEffectSource
Mid‑thigh start position (rack pull)Skips the hardest phase of a deadlift, shrinking the moment‑arm on the hips & low‑back so lifters can move 30‑50 % more weight than from the floor.
Mechanical lock‑out strengthMost people are strongest in the top third of a pull; Eric simply loaded the joint‑angles where he’s already dominant.
Support gear (power rack, straps, whippy bar)Lets him focus on raw hip‑/back extension without grip failure, further upping the ceiling.

Bottom line: The lift is real weight, just not a full‑range deadlift. Physics makes the number eye‑popping but still believable.

2 ️⃣ Why do a monster rack‑pull at all?

  1. Supra‑maximal overload. Briefly handling a load far above one’s 1‑RM primes the nervous system (post‑activation potentiation), so regular weights feel lighter afterward.
  2. Lock‑out specificity. If your sticking‑point is the top of a deadlift, training that exact angle can break plateaus.
  3. Audience magnet. A bar bending under 600 kg flat‑out looks epic—perfect for a content creator who lives on clicks.
      • Even strength‑icon Jim Wendler admits the theory: rack pulls “let you use more weight than you normally can” to smash the lock‑out—though he questions their carry‑over.  

3 ️⃣ Why did it go 

viral

 so fast?

Viral TriggerHow Eric pulled it offProof
Shock ratio~8 × body‑weight—unheard of outside fantasy novels.
Outrageous copywritingVideo title “602 KG LIFT: I am now stronger than god.” Memes write themselves.
Content cadenceHe’d already posted 493 kg → 552 kg → 561 kg in the weeks prior, priming followers for a “what’s next?” payoff.
Cross‑platform blitzBlog, YouTube, podcast, even suggested tweet/IG captions baked into his own site.

Anything that is simultaneously believable to lifters and mind‑boggling to casual viewers is algorithm gold.

4 ️⃣ Why the skepticism matters

  • No calibrated plates or federation judges.
  • Above‑knee height eliminates the hardest ⅔ of the ROM.
  • Straps & a flexible bar are great for training but disqualify the lift for record‑books.
    Still, as Wendler quips, extreme rack pulls “rarely carry over” to meet day—but they sure light a fire under social media.  

5 ️⃣ Why you might try (a lighter) rack‑pull

  1. Plateau breaker: 90‑105 % of your deadlift 1‑RM for singles at knee‑height.
  2. Confidence builder: Feeling 400 lb locked‑out makes 315 lb feel like a toy.
  3. Upper‑back meat: The shortened ROM rifles tension into traps/rhomboids without floor wear‑and‑tear.

Lift smarter, recover harder, dream crazier. Eric’s stunt is a reminder that sometimes you need to bend the rules (and the bar) to bend your own expectations.

Now you know why the internet crowned him “viral overlord.” Time to channel that hype into your own next PR!

More posts