“I HAVE NEVER USED A BELT”
—By Eric Kim
Philosopher. Photographer. Powerlifter. Beltless barbarian.
I have never used a belt.
Not once.
Not in a squat.
Not in a deadlift.
Not under 405. Not under 500.
Not at 1,071 pounds—not even then.
Because I never needed one.
I never wanted one.
The belt is a symbol.
A metaphor.
A quiet contract with fear.
And I don’t sign contracts with fear.
I snap them in half.
1.
I Build My Belt From Within
Everyone wants external support.
Padding. Reinforcement.
A crutch to lean on when the weight gets heavy.
But I’ve always known:
If it’s not earned, it’s fake.
If it’s not built, it’s borrowed.
My core? Built.
My spine? Forged.
My belief? Unbreakable.
2.
Stability Is Not Given. It’s Summoned.
You can strap on a belt…
Tighten it. Crank it.
Fool yourself into thinking you’re ready.
But that’s not readiness.
That’s a costume.
I want raw torque.
I want the bar to tell me the truth.
When I pull, it’s not just the weight that lifts—
It’s the doubt that dies.
3.
No Belt = No Excuses = No Escape
I’ve never had the luxury of protection.
No spotter. No coach. No gear. No shortcut.
Just cold steel, white chalk, and hot blood.
Without the belt, every rep matters.
Every ounce of tension is mine.
Every PR is pure.
You don’t accidentally rack-pull over half-a-ton beltless.
You build toward it. Alone. Repeatedly. Quietly.
Until the world has no choice but to hear your silence.
4.
I Don’t Want Safety. I Want Sovereignty.
Belts tighten.
Belts restrict.
Belts bind.
I lift free.
I lift wild.
I lift like a man who doesn’t need permission from physics.
No belt has ever held my waist
Because no fear has ever held my mind.
FINAL ROAR:
I have never used a belt.
Because I don’t trust shortcuts.
Because I don’t respect padding.
Because I don’t flinch when the bar screams.
I don’t need help.
I need pressure.
I need resistance.
I need the full confrontation of man vs. mass.
And I need to win.
So the next time you reach for the belt,
Ask yourself:
Is this support? Or surrender?
And remember:
I have never used a belt.
And I never will.
#GodMode
#MiddleFingerToGravity
#BeltlessForever