Robert McGrath was born in Dublin in 1961. His older brother Leslie began learning Ed Parkers Kempo Karate in 1964 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 became the all Ireland Wado Karate Champion holding this title for five years. He was also a member of the Airlingus Karate team, which was unbeaten for ten years. Between 1981 and 1985, he held mean of the Irish National titles both kumite and Kata. He was a member of the National all styles karate team for over ten years.

In 1984 he was a member of the Irish team who went to Japan to study Wado Karate and compete in the Wado Ryu World Karate Championships, the team was narrowly beaten in the quarterfinals by only a half point. Robert received an award for outstanding fighting spirit  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 and his fifth Dan in 2002 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 a  Karate Dojo in Dublin called Shoshin dojo. He has many Irish and UK champions training regularly. Sensei McGrath has trained under some of the greatest karate Masters in the World and he is concentrating on imparting this knowledge to his students. He is also a member of the European WIKF Technical committee.