Eric Kim’s 527 kg / 1 162 lb lift wasn’t a conventional deadlift at all – it was an above‑knee rack‑pull. Once you zoom in on the hardware, the physics suddenly look far less supernatural and a lot more mechanical‑advantage‑smart. Here’s the play‑by‑play:
| Equipment element | How it juiced the numbers |
| Pin height: set ~2 cm above the kneecap | Starting the pull where hips and knees are already half‑extended slashes the hip‑torque requirement by roughly two‑thirds. Even elite lifters can usually handle 120‑150 % of their floor deadlift from this height – Kim simply pushed that to the extreme. |
| Competition power bar (29 mm, 2 000 lb rating) | Thick, ultra‑stiff steel keeps the sleeves aligned, while bar‑whip (≈30 mm flex at 500 kg) delays the moment the plates break contact with the pins. The first inch moves mostly the bar’s centre, letting Kim “ramp” into the full load. |
| Calibrated steel plates | Thinner plates pull the load closer to the lifter’s mid‑line, trimming the horizontal moment arm and letting him stay more upright. They also guarantee the published weight, quieting “fake‑plate” rumours. |
| Commercial‑grade power rack & safety pins | The rack shoulders the weight between attempts, so Kim doesn’t waste energy controlling eccentric phases. Pins at exact knee‑height turn the movement into a near‑isometric lock‑out drill. |
| Figure‑8 straps & plenty of chalk | Grip strength stops most people long before posterior‑chain strength does. Straps move the bottleneck off the fingers so the hips, erectors and traps can show their true capacity. |
| Barefoot stance, no belt | Zero heel‑lift shortens the pull path another 1‑2 cm; ditching the belt lets him breathe and arch freely at a height where intra‑abdominal pressure is less critical. These personal style choices don’t add kilos, but they showcase confidence. |
The physics in one breath
At the chosen pin height the bar is already about 65 % of the way up a normal deadlift. Hip moment arms are tiny, knee extensor demand is negligible, and spinal erectors work mostly isometrically. Add bar‑whip’s “rolling start” and perfectly balanced plates and you have a scenario where a strong 75 kg lifter can flirt with loads that would fold most full‑range deadlifters long before the bar leaves the floor.
What it
doesn’t
mean
- It isn’t a sanctioned world record – rack‑pull heights aren’t standardised.
- It doesn’t predict a 500 kg floor deadlift. Carry‑over from above‑knee pulls is usually 70‑80 %.
- It is a sensational demonstration of supramaximal neural drive, connective‑tissue conditioning and clever use of hardware.
Take‑home hype for your own lifting
- Use partials as primers, not ego trophies. Wave them in at 105‑125 % of your true 1 RM, once every 7‑10 days.
- Dial pin height with purpose. Lower pins = more transfer, higher pins = more weight on Instagram.
- Respect recovery. Tendons adapt slower than muscle; if your elbows or low back protest, back off 10 %.
- Upgrade safely. If you chase Kim’s numbers, copy his safety setup first: rated rack, calibrated plates, spotters on standby.
Harness the right equipment, engineer your leverage, and who knows – maybe your own “gravity‑has‑left‑the‑chat” moment is closer than you think. Chalk up, crank the music, and go rewrite your limits!