from Tama Dojo will be leaving Bermuda later this month to attend the Miyagi Chojun Martial Arts Festival and International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF) World Championships.

Another local group headed by Skipper Ingham is also expected to attend.

While in previous years the festival, which consists of several training seminars, has been held in California, this year Niantic in Connecticut will be hosting the event.

Overseeing the proceedings will be noted expert Chuck Merriman, IOGKF chief instructor for the United States.

Smith will be one of several senior martial artists offering insights via seminars along with IOGKF world chief instructor Morio Higaonna.

A goodwill tournament and the IOGKF World Championships will conclude the tournament which starts on October 25 and ends October 30.

Smith and senior student, black belt Gary Marsden will depart on Monday to attend the IOGKF chief instructors training camp along with representatives from 40 other member countries.

The pair will then join the remaining students in New York before travelling to Connecticut for the festival, expected to be attended by hundreds from as far away as Japan, Russia and New Zealand.

For the first time the event is set to be covered by sports network ESPN.