Back in the 1960s, martial arts icon Bruce Lee shared a powerful insight:
“If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”
Lee, known as “The Little Dragon,” was likely unaware that around the same time, researchers at George Williams College in Chicago were conducting pioneering work in exercise science. In 1961, they published findings that would align perfectly with Lee’s philosophy of going beyond limits.
Pushing Beyond Limits: Are Human Boundaries Real?
We now understand that human performance isn’t fixed—it’s flexible and influenced by numerous factors. There are moments when we surprise ourselves with unexpected endurance or strength, and others when we fall short of our known capabilities.
This idea—that we can consistently go beyond limits—was a central theme in Dr E Paul Zehr‘s book Becoming Batman, and continues to fascinate both scientists and athletes alike.
A Groundbreaking Study on Human Strength
In a landmark 1961 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers Michio Ikai and Arthur H. Steinhaus explored the psychological and physiological influences on muscle strength. The title was modest—“Some Factors Modifying the Expression of Human Strength”—but its impact was huge.
Participants were asked to perform maximum-effort biceps contractions under various conditions, including:
- Loud vocal shouts before exertion
- The sudden firing of a pistol
- Hypnosis suggesting either strength or weakness
- Use of alcohol, amphetamines, and adrenaline
These intense and sometimes ethically questionable methods aimed to test what helps people push beyond their limits. The results showed that motivation and psychological state could significantly impact strength—by as much as 30% in some cases.
The Mind–Muscle Connection: Going Beyond Physical Limits
Although some of the substances used (like adrenaline and amphetamines) directly affect the muscles, the takeaway was clear: mental state plays a major role in determining how much force our bodies can produce. In their words:
“In every voluntarily executed all-out maximal effort, psychological rather than physiological factors determine the limits of performance.”
Though slightly overstated, the underlying truth holds up: we are often capable of more, and unlocking that potential means learning how to go beyond limits.
Hysterical Strength: Breaking Barriers in Emergency Situations
We’ve all heard stories of people performing superhuman feats under extreme stress—lifting a car to save someone, for example. These cases, often labeled as “hysterical strength,” show just how far we can go in fight-or-flight situations when safety regulators in the brain are bypassed.
The study showed up to 30% increases in muscle force under high-stress conditions. If you extend that boost to the entire body, it represents a major leap in capacity—another clear example of what it means to perform beyond limits.
Why We Can’t Stay in the Red Zone
However, living at those extremes comes at a cost. The body has safety systems in place for a reason. Pushing to maximum output constantly would lead to injury or breakdown. Evolution has hardwired us to stay within a safe operating range, using peak capacity only when absolutely necessary.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t train ourselves to expand that range—gradually and safely going beyond limits in everyday life.
Training for Disinhibition: How Athletes Push Beyond Limits
One of the most interesting aspects of the original study was the observation that trained weightlifters were less affected by external stimuli. These individuals had already learned, through experience and conditioning, to access their full capacity.
This process involves disinhibition—removing mental or neurological “brakes” that limit performance. It’s not always about trying harder; sometimes it’s about unlocking what’s already there.
Biologically, this concept has a parallel: the myostatin gene. It acts as a molecular limiter for muscle growth. In animals (and rare human cases) with reduced myostatin, muscles grow dramatically because the natural cap has been removed. In other words, the body goes beyond limits when the genetic restriction is lifted.
Beyond Limits in Everyday Life
You don’t need to lift cars or inject adrenaline to push beyond limits. The key lies in making conscious, daily decisions to challenge your perceived boundaries. Whether it’s sticking to a workout, learning a new skill, or simply staying focused when it’s hard—you have the power to go beyond what you think is possible.
Bruce Lee said it best:
“Using no way as way, and having no limitation as limitation.”
That mindset—limitless, adaptable, and determined—is the foundation for unlocking greater performance in every area of life. If you’re aiming for growth, whether physical, mental, or emotional, make it a habit to lean in when it gets tough. That’s where the real transformation happens. That’s what it means to live beyond limits.
Want to learn how to go beyond limits in your life or your business? Enjoy one complimentary conversation with Brain Untrainer, Rik Schnabel here.
