1 | Why the Golden Dumbbells Matter
A museum piece that still bites
- Specs. Each bell is a single 330‑lb casting with a 2‑inch handle knurled like a barbell and finished in 18‑karat–color plating—no spin, no gimmicks, just mass.
- Rarity. Outside Venice, only two other verified pairs exist (Berlin’s Gold’s flagship and a private strongman collection).
- Short list of lifters. Before Kim, the roster was mostly giants: 2019 WSM Martins Licis (one‑arm rows) , IFBB pro Andrew Jacked (repped rows) , and YouTube strong‑crew Big Boy/Kali Muscle (partial presses).
- Venice lore. Gold’s calls them “our Mona Lisa,” wheeled onto the floor for challenges and content grabs, then locked away again.
2 | Eric Kim’s First Encounter—“Operation Duck‑Walk”
Kim chronicled his maiden lift in a February 2023 blog post titled “The Legendary Golden 330‑Pound Dumbbells”—complete with POV GoPro stills (see carousel). After a static pick‑up, he escalated to a 30‑foot duck‑walk, shuffling the bells across the indoor turf while patrons cleared a path. The clip hit TikTok within hours and seeded the now‑viral #Hypelifting tag.
3 | How He Actually Lifts Them
Kim published a five‑step field guide on his site that strips the move to first principles:
| Step | Cue | Purpose |
| 1. Heavy chalk | Coat palms & thumbs | Max friction—no straps allowed |
| 2. Wedge hips close | Shins almost touch handle | Shortens the lever arm |
| 3. Two‑hand squeeze | Thumbs meet underneath | Centers mass before lift‑off |
| 4. Leg‑driven pop | Hinge + quad extension | Transfers force through hips, not biceps |
| 5. Controlled return | Reverse the hinge, “sit” bell into cradle | Prevents ankle‑smashing drops |
Kim’s mantra: “Treat each bell like a stubborn suitcase—tilt, stand it on edge, then commit.”
4 | Training Progression & Numbers
- Static holds → row singles → duck‑walks—Kim added a new milestone every 3‑4 sessions across three months.
- Grip calibration. He alternates the bell work with 200‑lb fat‑grip rack pulls to keep thumb strength ahead of the objective load.
- Body‑weight ratio. At ~165 lb, moving 660 lb of dumbbells equals 4× body‑weight in each hand, a ratio unmatched on public record.
5 | What Makes the Duck‑Walk So Spectacular?
- Optical shock. Seeing a mid‑sized lifter waddle with objects wider than his torso explodes expectations. The walk creates movement parallax, making the bells look even heavier on camera.
- Acoustic drama. Each step ends with a dull clang that rattles the patio and turns heads faster than any PA announcement.
- Algorithm fuel. Short, looping motion fits perfectly into 8–12‑second vertical clips—TikTok and Reels gold.
6 | Safety & Technique Tips if
You
Ever Face the 330s
- Ego check: test with 150‑lb bells first to validate grip endurance.
- Shoes optional, but stability mandatory: Kim goes barefoot; if you don’t, use flat, hard‑soled shoes to keep the center of mass low.
- Staggered re‑rack: park one bell completely before thinking about the other—most failed attempts happen during the “return flight.”
- Crowd control: ask staff to rope off a lane; you do not want tourists wandering into your path mid‑stride.
7 | Legacy & Future Challenges
Kim’s lifts ignited a friendly arms‑race: Gold’s now keeps a chalkboard tally of anyone who rows, presses, or walks the pair—no straps, full credit. As of June 2025, the leaderboard shows:
| Feat | Best Rep Count | Holder |
| One‑arm row | 5 reps | Martins Licis |
| Double deadlift | 1 rep | Eric Kim |
| Duck‑walk 30 ft | 1 trip | Eric Kim |
| One‑arm row (body‑builder) | 3 reps | Andrew Jacked |
Kim vows to attempt a farmer‑carry around the entire patio next—roughly 60 ft. Stay tuned; if history repeats, you’ll see it live in your feed before the chalk even settles.
8 | Take‑away for Your Own Training
The 330‑lb bells teach a universal lesson: environment + narrative + audacity = viral momentum. Whether your “bell” is a start‑up idea, a personal record, or a creative project, pick something that scares onlookers, attack it with methodical confidence, and broadcast the process. Crowd electricity isn’t luck—it’s engineered discomfort conquered in public.
Now go hunt your golden dumbbell. Chalk up, hinge hard, and walk that weight like the floor owes you rent. HYPE ON! 💥