People of Portage County: Ben Price brings Brazilian jiu-jitsu to downtown
By Brian Kurzynski
STEVENS POINT — “Murder yoga,” “pajama wrestling,” and “the gentle art of folding clothes with people still in them” are some of the playful ways Brazilian jiu-jitsu is referred to by its students.
But to Ben Price, IBJJF black belt and founder of Elite Team Wisconsin in downtown Stevens Point, it’s all about helping others get onto a path of self-improvement.
Born in Milwaukee and raised in Burlington, Price’s early athletic involvement centered around Little League baseball, then shifted to basketball in junior high. “I had high hopes of someday playing in the NBA, but I stopped growing after eighth grade.”
An avid fan of the then-fledgling Ultimate Fighting Championship, a mixed martial arts organization, Price recalled, “When I saw UFC fighters using jiu-jitsu to submit opponents, I said, ‘I need to learn that.’” But with no jiu-jitsu schools near Burlington at that time, his goal was put on hold.
High school brought a difficult turn for Price.
“I was an introverted nerd. I gained a lot of weight. I was 225 pounds at my heaviest. I was bullied a lot, first for being short, then for being short and overweight.”
He began skipping school, putting his graduation in jeopardy. He got himself back on track thanks to the Challenge Academy, a program for at-risk teens hosted at Fort McCoy.
“I learned discipline. I lost 40 pounds in a few months and basically earned a GED. It was tough, actually harder than boot camp.”
He joined the Navy at 19 and trained as an aviation electrician. During his service, he completed two overseas deployments in Qatar and Iraq. Between deployments, he met his future wife, April, who was also serving in the Navy. They married in 2009 and had the first of three children that same year.
While stationed in San Diego, Price began his jiu-jitsu training. Six years later, he had earned his brown belt from Tom Knox, founder of Elite Team in Visalia, California. He left the Navy in 2010.
The passing of Price’s father in 2017 prompted him to move his family back to Wisconsin. “I felt like I had missed opportunities to spend time with my dad, and I didn’t want myself or my kids to miss time with my mom.”
In the summer of 2018, Price rented space in downtown Stevens Point and established Elite Team Wisconsin. In the summer of 2024, he and his wife purchased the former Boys and Girls Club building on Ellis Street to create a permanent home for the gym. Together, they teach adult and kids’ classes Monday through Friday, with open mats available on the weekends.
Price says teaching jiu-jitsu is its own reward, as he has helped students lose weight, manage post-traumatic stress disorder, and develop self-confidence. He emphasized that, beyond these benefits, jiu-jitsu teaches perseverance.
“You get out of it what you put in. If you keep grinding at it, you’re going to get results. I know how much it has helped me, and I believe it can help anyone.”
Elite Team Wisconsin is located at 1007 Ellis St. in Stevens Point.