Super Shotguns and chainsaws are all well and good, but few demon killin’ instruments are as fine-tuned and effective as the DOOM Slayer himself. While we (thankfully) have no need to rip apart demons by hand, we can still break down the science of the Slayer’s impressive physique and see what we can apply to our own. This is Ripped & Tear!

Be it a sheer-faced cliff or the slightest handhold at the end of a chasm-wide jump, the Slayer navigates it without breaking a sweat. As seen in the gameplay reveal of DOOM Eternal at QuakeCon 2018, some walls can’t even contain the Slayer anymore. He just digs his hands in and goes for it, ladders be danged.

Even discounting the intense weight of all the weapons, ammo, armor and demon viscera he has on his person, where does all that strength come from that lets the Slayer vault with such ease? We may never know what truly powers the Slayer, but we brought a fitness expert for the next best guess: the latissimus dorsi.

Lat-eral Movement

Commonly known as your lats, the latissimus dorsi is a wide, flat muscle that wraps around your back. One of the largest muscles on the upper body, the lats play a critical role in climbing. It’s not just having beefy arms – having a strong back is essential for returning those outstretched guns to your body!

“The primary function of the lat is the adduction of the arm, which is used when performing a pull-up,” says our returning consultant Phillip Durity. “Another function of the lat is extension, as in swinging the arm toward the back.”

Given that the lats are among the largest muscles on the upper body, it’s easy to see how lifting force they could generate when wrapped around a frame like the Slayer’s. However, that much muscle likely needs a lot of training, so what can we do to improve our vaulting skills (or at least do more than one pull-up)? Tune in next time for the second half of this edition of Ripped & Tear!

DISCLAIMER: Always consult your physician before beginning any physical fitness regimen or rigorous activity. Stop immediately if you feel faint, dizzy, pain or shortness of breath while exercising. This series is intended for entertainment purposes and does not replace the advice of healthcare professionals. ZeniMax Media and its partners are not responsible for any injuries that may occur from attempting exercises shown on this website.