recently returned from the Fifth Miyagi Chojun Festival and International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF) World Championships.

For Smith the venture proved particularly rewarding as he came away with a silver medal in the senior kata (forms) division at the championships, held at the Garde Arts Centre in New London, Connecticut.

However, the local expert might have done even better as he faltered in his final outing after looking set for the top spot following performances in the first two rounds of elimination.

Despite missing out on the gold medal Smith said the award was by far his most satisfying "because it was amongst my peers, all members of the IOGKF and from many different countries''.

The trip for Smith began in San Diego, California with a chief instructors training camp. The IOGKF, of which Smith is the representative and chief instructor in Bermuda, holds the camp every two years for instructors from more than 40 countries which make up its membership.

The camps are used to aid in maintaining the high standard required by the IOGKF. All the courses were taught by IOGKF chairman and chief instructor Master Morio Higaonna, who covered preliminary exercises, basic techniques, kata and self defence.

Following his stint on the west coast, Smith joined his students at the festival and World Championships in the New England state.

Senseis Skipper and Kristina Ingham along with Sensei Kent Simmons and world champion martial artist Gladwin (Roots) Phillips also attended with the Bermudians coming away with several medals.

BOBBY SMITH -- with the silver medal he won at the IOGKF World Championships.