Taekwondo, teamwork bring success to local teens

Kim Bantum almost is a second mother to Daniel Mizufuka, who is like a big brother to her daughter.

Nothing makes Bantum happier than when the teenagers get into a good battle, even if it involves weapons.

There's no reason to call Child Protective Services.

Mizufuka, 18, and Paige Bantum, 15, are best friends and training partners in taekwondo.

They teamed to win the gold medal in the synchronized team

competition -- regardless of age -- two weeks ago at the American Taekwondo Association World Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

Each stands about an inch or two over 5 feet and weighs about 100 pounds. Both are third-degree black belts.

Mizufuka, a recent graduate of Palo Verde High School, and Bantum left the tournament with three gold medals apiece. Mizufuka won in traditional and extreme weapons using double nunchaku for men ages 17 to 29, and Bantum in extreme form and extreme weapon with the staff for girls 13-16.

About 20,000 athletes of all ages from nine countries competed in various age groups and categories.

For the past seven years, Mizufuka and Bantum have trained and sparred together in taekwondo under Kim Bantum, a fourth-degree black belt who operates Quest Martial Arts.

But this fall, the teenagers will have to find new partners for the first time when Mizufuka begins college.

"He'll still meet us at some competitions next year," Paige Bantum said, looking somewhat relieved their relationship will continue. "And we have the computer to stay in touch."

Mizufuka graduated with an adjusted 4.7 grade-point average on a 4-point system. He is in his second year of working as a taekwondo instructor and youth counselor at Mirabelli Community Center, where the two train nearly every night.

The ATA stresses its style of taekwondo as being nonaggressive and teaches an "ethical system of self-defense." There is sparring with protective gear, but neither qualified for the championships in that category.

"We focus on respect," said Bantum, a sophomore at Shadow Ridge High School, where she is a cheerleader and on the dance team.

She and Mizufuka, who is undecided on where to attend college, have the skills to do physical harm but emphasize the importance of never doing that.

"You never want to be the person who starts a fight, and you want to avoid fights at all costs," he said. "By doing that, you show self-control and discipline, that you can have that knowledge and be able to apply it but have control over it."

Bantum, who started in the sport with her mother 11 years ago, said, "In our program for young kids about how to deal with bullying, we teach that you never want to be the person who starts a fight."

Mizufuka adds, "But we do know how to defend ourselves."

That is a point no one should debate.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.