N.J. karate legend who inspired thousands loses battle with ALS – NJ.com

The pictures in the corridor, just across from the main ball room at Newarks Robert Treat Hotel, captured the martial arts greatness of Kevin Brown Thompson.

A Newark native, Thompson mastered three disciplines weapons, forms and fighting and won world championships in each category, an achievement rarely attained. Hes in the Black Belt Hall of Fame, his name and accomplishments listed with legends Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris.

Thompsons toughest opponent, however, didnt have anything to do with karate.

It was ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

A fierce competitor, Thompson fought the debilitating neuromuscular disease eight years until Jan. 8. He was 58 when he died at his home in West Orange.

He always fought this to the very end and thought he would overcome it, said his brother, A. Earl Brown. He never wavered right to the very end.

His never-give-up attitude was present Saturday, when more than 1,200 people, including family, friends and fans, filled the ballroom of the Robert Treat Hotel to celebrate Thompsons life and praise him for how he handled his plight.

I met Thompson six years ago. His fighting spirit was in his infectious smile, when he greeted you, when he accepted the 2012 diagnosis, taking it on with his Islamic faith, martial arts discipline and humanity for others.

He welcomed ALS.

I welcome it because the creator is allowing me to be here today to bring awareness, he said in 2014.

Hed tell anyone about the ALS and the need for treatment after he joined the ALS Association Greater New York chapter.

Thompson participated in an ALS parade at Yankee Stadium, where he and others were honored. Congressional leaders were impressed with him during ALS Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.

His story helped the ALS organization in New York raise $1.1 million in 2014. Celebrities such as Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly and Franco Harris were there, but Thompson, in his own right, was just as large.

Don Rodrigues, his national karate team coach, best explained Thompsons stature to me when we spoke years ago. He is to karate what Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron are to baseball, what Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are to basketball, what Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas are to football, what Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano are to boxing.

He was recruited by and competed with the best teams in the world that featured the best talent in the United States to compete internationally. They were the Budweiser Karate Team, Transworld Oil Karate Atlantic Team and Team Paul Mitchell, which he retired from as team captain in 2012, the year he was diagnosed.

Paul Mitchell team members were at the funeral Saturday, traveling from Rhode Island, California and Toronto. Theyd often come to visit Thompson in his West Orange home, raising money so he could have a mobile wheelchair and van.

Old photo of martial arts legend Kevin Brown Thompson, who lost his battle with ALS.Alex Remnick

Christopher Rappold, his teammate and captain, had everyone in ballroom close their eyes and remember something about Thompson. Do you see his smile, can you feel his touch? He talked about the man whom he said has been his brother for 35 years.

ALS lost in the end the fight to get his heart, his mind and his spirit," Rappold said.

Its why so many came to pay their respects. Beyond his martial arts exploits, family and friends said the grace in which he lived his life defines him better than his karate legacy.

Despite his own challenges, they said Thompson, a former vice principal at Newarks Barringer High School, was always thoughtful. Hed ask about your family, offer you something to eat. His heart allowed him to give away money to those in need thousands in some cases - knowing hed never get it back. If hed hurt an opponent, Thompson checked to see if the fighter was alright. There are many competitors he helped become better at their art.

The average leader makes people think highly of the leader," said Brown, his brother. The great and exceptional leader makes people think highly of themselves."

That was Kevin, the Grandmaster, a revered title by which he was known after leaving the sport that became his first love at 5-years-old.

As the disease progressed, Thompson stayed mobile as possible with the van. It allowed him to get around, particularly to the Shakil School of Martial Arts that hes owned since 1981. It started in Newark, but now is in Bloomfield after having schools in Montclair and East Orange.

His wife Shena, a nurse to whom he was married 25 years, cared for him. The couple had two children, and Thompson and had four from previous relationship.

The disease eventually took his speech last year, but Thompson used his eyes to manipulate a device that would convey his thoughts.

Hed share inspirational quotes, something uplifting, a passage from the Quran, a video from a motivational speaker.

Thompson was more concerned about others than his own situation. Superior Court Judge Bahir Kamil, his long-time friend and teacher at the karate school, said as much.

I think that was his final message to all of us who are still here," Kamil said.

He was the living embodiment of this phrase I am my brothers keeper," and Brown said his brother shared it whenever he addressed an audience.

We all are brothers and sisters and we should care for each other," Brown said.

The packed hotel ballroom agreed.

With Brown leading the cadence, they repeated the phrase three times.

It was loud. It was Thompsons way of telling them that he loved them.

And, they loved him, too.

Kevin Brown Thompson, owner of the Shakil School of Martial arts, lost his fight with ALS.Alex Remnick

Read more

Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.

Read more:
N.J. karate legend who inspired thousands loses battle with ALS - NJ.com