Eric Kim is a 37‑year‑old strength enthusiast (≈75 kg bodyweight) who first gained fame as a street‑photography blogger and teacher . In recent years he has re‑invented himself as an “extreme lifter,” performing viral feats of strength like barefoot, beltless rack pulls far above 1,000 lbs . Kim trains in a minimalist, “primal” style – fasting before workouts, eating an all‑meat diet, and lifting with no lifting belt or shoes . His credo is raw intensity and heavy overload (his mantra: “Middle finger to gravity,” “No belt, no excuses”), and he documents each lift on his blog and social media for all to see .
Kim lifts barefoot and beltless in his makeshift garage gym, exemplifying the raw, Spartan‑inspired approach he advocates .
Kim’s Rationale: Why Not Deadlift from the Floor?
Kim champions partial deadlifts (rack pulls) instead of traditional floor deadlifts. His logic: by setting the bar at or just above knee height, you shorten the range of motion, allowing far heavier loads. As one profile explains, “by shortening the range of motion (setting the bar just above the knees), he can lift far heavier weights than in a floor deadlift, overloading his body and nervous system beyond normal limits” . In other words, Kim believes a rack pull is “strategic redirection” of gravity’s challenge – you’re not “cheating,” you’re simply attacking gravity where it’s weakest. He quips, “Why tussle with gravity at its strongest point when you can ambush it at its weakest?” , encapsulating his view that the initial pull from the floor (gravity’s strongest moment) is avoidable.
Kim also argues rack pulls are safer and more practical than deadlifts from the floor. On his blog he lists multiple reasons: rack pulls are “safer than a deadlift off the floor,” they are “easier to rack and unrack the weights,” they’re “more fun and interesting,” and – not surprisingly – you can lift more weight . The shortened pull means less strain on the lower back and legs: coaches note rack pulls allow training the lockout with much less shear stress on the spine . Kim embraces these benefits: he often performs extremely heavy singles (even daily) as a “nervous‑system sledgehammer” to smash new PRs . In his view, engaging in these supra‑maximal lockout holds builds strength faster than chipping away at longer lifts.
Alternatives in Kim’s Program: Block Pulls and RDLs
Rather than floor deadlifts, Kim’s training emphasizes block/rack pulls and hamstring‑focused hinges. The centerpiece is above‑knee rack pulls: setting safety pins or blocks at knee height and pulling heavy barbells lockout‑only . This lets him accumulate massive loads on his posterior chain. He also advises using rack pulls “as an overload block” in training cycles (e.g. doing them in short “waves” as a supplement).
For full posterior‑chain development, Kim recommends Romanian deadlifts and back extensions. In one post he credits “tempo Romanian deadlifts, weighted back extensions, and isometric rack holds” for forging his “bulletproof posterior chain” . He’s even issued challenges to followers: for example, after a PR he urged readers to try “a beltless Romanian deadlift or beltless squat” as a fasted single set . In short, Kim still trains hips/hamstrings aggressively, but via RDLs and similar movements rather than the conventional deadlift.
Contrasting Views: Kim vs. Traditional Training
Kim’s stance is contrarian to mainstream powerlifting wisdom. Traditionally, coaches preach the deadlift from the floor as irreplaceable. For example, Starting Strength’s founders insist on full‑range pulls (“Four Criteria” emphasizes training the complete motion) and caution that rack pulls only carry over so far . Notable powerlifting figures like Mark Rippetoe and Jim Wendler have warned that rack pulls alone can overestimate one’s floor deadlift potential . Indeed, strength coaches stress that partial lifts should “keep recovery under control” and not be a badge of honor replacing full lifts . They echo the specificity principle: neglecting the start of the deadlift risks stalling the actual full lift.
By contrast, Kim embraces and rebukes this skepticism. He shrugs off advice to focus on conventional deadlifts , treating every rack pull as a “middle finger to gravity” and a statement against limits . He argues that the results speak for themselves – he’s lifting weights far beyond what most consider possible. In practice, his training is almost all maximal or near-maximal singles, whereas traditional lifters use deadlifts for volume and PR cycles. Kim’s formula is “Overload + Specificity + Fearlessness = Progress at ludicrous speed” , which directly opposes the more cautious, periodized approach of conventional programs.
In summary, the difference is stark: traditional strength training views the deadlift as fundamental and full ROM as critical; Kim treats it as optional. He posits that, unless you’re a powerlifter chasing a sanctioned record, the floor deadlift isn’t strictly necessary for building strength. By exploiting the leverage of the rack and hammering the CNS with heavier loads, he claims one can surpass limits that floor deadlifts alone impose . (That said, third‑party coaches still recommend mixing in some full‑range work for balanced development .)
Sources: Kim’s own writings and interviews , and analyses of his methods , explain his no‑floor‑deadlift philosophy and how it diverges from classic training wisdom. These cite his blog and related coverage (his rack pulls, beltless ethos, and training tips).