The Chief Instructor of Ireland

Mr Robert McGrath 6th. Dan.

Robert McGrath was born in Dublin in 1961. His older brother Leslie began learning Ed Parkers Kempo Karate in 1965 but after seeing Mr. Tatsuo Suzuki on Irish television he changed over to Wado Karate-Do training under Tatsuo Suzuki sensei and Jim Prichard sensei.

In 1972 Leslie took his little brother to his first Karate lesson under Derek Desmond sensei. Soon Robert McGrath was training five to seven days a week with Desmond sensei and Iwasaki sensei.

At the age of 19 years he won the all Ireland Senior Wado Karate Championship, this was an open weight tournament and he defended this title for five years. He was also a member of the Aerlingus Karate team, which was unbeaten for ten years.

Between 1981 and 1985, he held mean of the Irish National titles (Both Wado & All styles, O.N.A.K.A.I.) both kumite and Kata. He was a member of the (O.N.A.K.A.I. Team) National all styles karate team for over ten years. Competing in W.K.F. and E.K.F. championships.

In 1984 he was a member of the Irish Wado team who went to Japan to study Wado Karate and compete in the Wado Ryu World Karate Championships, marking 50 years of Wado, the team was narrowly beaten in the quarterfinals by only a half point. Robert received an award for outstanding fighting spirit. Due to a very bad facial injury he had to retire from Competition karate at the age of 27 years. But in 1994 he entered the WIKF European championship and was defeated in the semi final round of the Kumite open weight. He won a World WIKF Bronze medal in Dallas Texas in 2005.

In 1985 at the age of 23 years he received his first Dan from Mr. Shiomitsu Sensei, then in 1990 he received his second Dan, his third Dan in 1993 his fourth Dan in 1997 his fifth Dan in 2002 and his Sixth Dan in 2008 all graded by Mr. Tatsuo Suzuki Sensei. In 1993 Mr. Suzuki Sensei asked him to be the Chief Instructor for the Republic of Ireland . The Wado International karate-Do Federation in Ireland was formed the same year. Robert McGrath Sensei has trained under some of the greatest karate Masters in the World and he is now concentrating on imparting this knowledge to his students. He holds a level 3 national coaching certificates and he was also a member of the European WIKF Technical committee.