Dr Elvis Moyo has fought his way to victory on the mats – and now he's done the same in the classroom. The South African Jiu-Jitsu champion has earned a PhD in applied radiation sciences from North-West University (NWU).

Dr Moyo received his doctorate during a graduation ceremony at the NWU's Mahikeng Campus on 9 May 2025.

His immersion in martial arts began at the age of five and grew after reading about Moses Radebe, a South African champion and NWU alumnus who competed in World Jiu-Jitsu Championship held in Brazil. "After I read an article about Moses Radebe, I wanted to learn more about the sport," says Dr Moyo.

His dedication paid off, earning him a place in the national team after winning a gold medal at the South African National Championships in 2018. The following year he secured two gold medals at the 2019 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in South Africa, where he was named the best fighter.

In 2023, he represented South Africa and the NWU at the Morganti Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Recife, Brazil, where he took home a bronze medal in the stand-up fighting category. He narrowly missed a podium finish in the grappling category, placing fourth.

Dr Moyo’s academic ethos displays the same level of discipline and attention to detail as he shows in sport. His PhD research focused on analysing uranium ore samples from South African mines using advanced techniques such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

This work identified the unique chemical signatures of uranium ores, contributing to nuclear forensics and security.

Reflecting on his life experiences, Dr Moyo says that Jiu-Jitsu not only shaped his competitive spirit but also taught him resilience. "Jiu-Jitsu boosts your self-confidence and teaches you self-defence techniques, something everyone can benefit from."

With his PhD and continued success in Jiu-Jitsu, he is demonstrating that there are no limits to excellence. Sport and science go well together.

South African Jiu-Jitsu champion Dr Elvis Moyo recently earned a PhD in applied radiation sciences from the NWU.