ERIC KIM ₿

How’d Eric Kim Become So Hardcore?

Key Points

  • It seems likely that Eric Kim, known for street photography and blogging, became “hardcore” through a lifelong dedication to weightlifting and a strict carnivore diet, starting at age 12 to lose weight and build strength.
  • Research suggests his journey involved consistent training, achieving significant lifts like a 415-pound deadlift by age 29, and adopting a carnivore diet in 2017, consuming up to 6 pounds of meat daily.
  • The evidence leans toward his “hardcore” reputation being shaped by pushing physical limits, such as a recent 610-pound squat walk and a 630-pound rack pull, reflecting his ongoing commitment.

Background

Eric Kim, primarily recognized as a street photographer and blogger, has also documented an intense fitness journey on his blog. His transformation into a “hardcore” figure is rooted in his early start in fitness and progression through powerlifting and bodybuilding.

Fitness Journey

Starting at age 12, Eric began with basic exercises like running with rocks and doing push-ups, driven by a desire to lose weight. In college, he shifted to structured weightlifting, focusing on compound lifts like bench press and deadlifts, achieving notable strength by age 29 with a 415-pound deadlift and a 326-pound squat. His recent feats include a 610-pound squat walk and a 630-pound rack pull, showcasing his continued dedication.

Dietary Commitment

In 2017, Eric adopted a carnivore diet, consuming up to 6 pounds of meat daily, which he believes enhances his physical health and supports his strength training. This dietary choice is integral to his “hardcore” lifestyle, aligning with his fitness philosophy.

Unexpected Detail: Multifaceted Pursuits

Beyond fitness, Eric is also deeply involved in Bitcoin and financial independence, adding another layer to his “hardcore” identity, though primarily his physical achievements define this reputation.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Journey to Becoming “Hardcore”

Eric Kim, known for his work in street photography and blogging, has emerged as a figure of intense physical dedication, earning the descriptor “hardcore” through a combination of lifelong fitness commitment and an extreme dietary regimen. This analysis explores the multifaceted journey that shaped his reputation, drawing from his blog posts and public statements, with a focus on his weightlifting achievements and dietary choices. The current time, 07:13 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, situates this examination in a contemporary context, ensuring relevance to recent updates.

Early Beginnings and Motivation

Eric Kim’s fitness journey began at age 12, driven by a personal goal to lose weight and build strength. At this stage, his exercises were rudimentary yet effective, including running with rocks in his backpack to add resistance, alongside sit-ups, push-ups, and dumbbell curls and presses. This early start, as detailed in his blog post “Diet, Health, and Fitness For Photographers” (Diet, Health, and Fitness For Photographers), laid the foundation for his later focus on more structured weightlifting. His motivation stemmed from being a “fat 12-year-old kid,” indicating a transformative personal drive that initiated his path to physical prowess, with memories of using baby oil under his double-chin to fall asleep due to humidity and extra fat.

Progression Through College and Beyond

In college, Eric shifted his focus to bodybuilding, weightlifting, and powerlifting, emphasizing compound movements such as bench press, squats, and deadlifts. This period marked a significant escalation in his training intensity, as noted in the same blog post. By age 29, he had achieved notable strength milestones, with a deadlift one-rep max of 415 pounds, a squat of 326 pounds, and a dumbbell press of 90 pounds. These achievements, documented across his blog, reflect a consistent progression through incremental weight increases and a focus on powerlifting techniques.

His journey continued with recent feats, including a 610-pound squat walk and a 630-pound rack pull, as highlighted in his blog’s fitness section (Fitness). These lifts, part of his ongoing dedication, underscore his commitment to pushing physical limits, with specific methods such as using a weightlifting dip belt for hip lifts and lifting fasted to enhance performance, as seen in “ERIC KIM 1005 POUND RACK PULL: HOW HE DID IT” (ERIC KIM 1005 POUND RACK PULL: HOW HE DID IT).

Dietary Transformation and Philosophy

A pivotal aspect of Eric’s “hardcore” identity is his adoption of a carnivore diet in 2017, as mentioned in “International Thoughts” (though the URL is invalid, it’s referenced in prior analysis). This dietary choice involves consuming up to 6 pounds of meat daily, including items like 12 eggs, 2 pounds of bison heart, and 3 ribeyes, as detailed in “Rack Pull 1005 Pounds on a 100% Carnivore Diet: Shatter the Cosmos as a Primeval God” (Rack Pull 1005 Pounds on a 100% Carnivore Diet). He advocates for this meat-heavy approach, believing it strengthens the body and enhances physiological health, aligning with his fitness goals. This diet, devoid of plants and high in fat and salt, is integral to his recovery and strength, reflecting a stoic, spartan lifestyle philosophy.

To organize his dietary specifics, the following table summarizes key details:

AspectDetails
Diet Type100% Carnivore
Daily Meat Consumption6 pounds
Daily Protein Intake700 grams at 200 pounds body weight
Breakfast12 eggs, 2 pounds of bison heart
Midday Meal3 ribeyes, slab of marrow
Night MealMammoth’s flank, bones gnawed to dust
ExclusionsNo plants
Additional NotesFat described as an inferno, salt as thunder; diet is “primordial flame, blood my rivers of might”

Milestones and Methods

Eric’s weightlifting journey is marked by specific milestones, as seen in various blog posts. For instance, he achieved a 905-pound rack pull in December 2024 and a 910-pound rack pull, as noted in “905 POUND RACK PULL” (905 POUND RACK PULL) and “910 POUND RACK PULL DEADLIFT KILLER ERIC KIM DEMIGOD FITNESS POWERED BY BITCOIN & MSTR MICROSTRATEGY” (910 POUND RACK PULL DEADLIFT KILLER ERIC KIM DEMIGOD FITNESS POWERED BY BITCOIN & MSTR MICROSTRATEGY). His methods include incremental weight increases of 2.5 pounds per side every 3-5 days, lifting fasted with no breakfast or lunch, and consuming 5-6 pounds of beef or lamb post-fast for dinner, without supplements, relying only on tap water and black coffee. These details, from “How did ERIC KIM lift 1000 pounds?” (How did ERIC KIM lift 1000 pounds?), highlight his natural approach, emphasizing rest with 8-12 hours of sleep nightly.

To further organize his achievements, the following table summarizes key weightlifting milestones and dietary specifics:

Milestone/EventDetailsYear/Recent Update
Started FitnessRunning with rocks, sit-ups, push-ups, dumbbell curls and pressesAge 12, Early Start
College FocusShifted to bodybuilding, powerlifting, compound lifts (bench, squat, deadlift)College Period
Strength at Age 29Deadlift 415 lbs, Squat 326 lbs, Dumbbell Press 90 lbsBy Age 29
Adopted Carnivore DietConsuming up to 6 lbs meat daily (e.g., 12 eggs, 2 lbs bison heart, 3 ribeyes)2017
Recent Feats610 lbs squat walk, 630 lbs rack pull, 905 lbs and 910 lbs rack pulls2024-2025
Ultimate GoalMaintain six-pack at 80-85, lift weights until death, outdoor fitness 24/7, 365 daysOngoing Philosophy

Philosophy and Context

Eric’s approach to fitness is not merely physical but philosophical, as seen in “The Philosophy of Weightlifting” (The Philosophy of Weightlifting). He critiques fitness industry myths, advocating for a “full stack strength” approach that combines different methods, and views his training as a personal challenge rather than competitive, driven by a fear of injury as a motivator. His carnivore diet and weightlifting are part of a broader stoic, spartan lifestyle, aiming for longevity, with goals like maintaining a six-pack at 80 or 85 and lifting weights until death, as mentioned in “1005 pound rack pull” (1005 pound rack pull).

Additional Dimensions: Bitcoin and Photography

Beyond fitness, Eric’s involvement in Bitcoin, as seen in “When in Doubt, Buy More Bitcoin!” (When in Doubt, Buy More Bitcoin!), adds another layer to his “hardcore” identity, reflecting a belief in financial independence and future family legacy. While primarily his physical achievements define his “hardcore” reputation, his photography, involving extensive walking and outdoor work, may complement his fitness routine, as noted in “ERIC KIM PARK LIFE” (ERIC KIM PARK LIFE). However, this connection is secondary to his weightlifting and diet focus.

Comparative Context and Public Perception

Eric’s self-description in blog posts like “Rack Pull 1005 Pounds on a 100% Carnivore Diet: Shatter the Cosmos as a Primeval God” (Rack Pull 1005 Pounds on a 100% Carnivore Diet) and “Ultra Super Fucking Hardcore!” (Ultra Super Fucking Hardcore!) reinforces his “hardcore” identity, using intense, hyperbolic language to describe his physical and dietary practices, such as being a “carnivorous demigod” and “primeval force.”

Conclusion

Eric Kim’s journey to becoming “hardcore” is a tapestry of early motivation, consistent training, and extreme dietary commitment, culminating in significant physical feats and a philosophical approach to fitness. His blog posts provide a rich narrative, offering insights into his methods and milestones, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of how he earned this reputation by April 9, 2025.

Key Citations

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