Empower ATA Martial Arts: Building Confidence, Character & Success in Salem and Keizer, OR

When Carson Clews jokes that parents pay him to “kick their kids,” it’s clear that humor is part of his teaching style. But behind the playful remark is a deep passion for martial arts and its power to shape lives. As the owner and lead instructor of Empower ATA Martial Arts in Salem and Keizer, Carson has dedicated over 25 years to teaching students not just how to defend themselves but how to develop confidence, discipline, and strength of character—skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.

More Than Just Kicks and Punches

Empower ATA Martial Arts isn’t just about learning to block, punch, or execute the perfect roundhouse kick. Carson and his team focus on developing the whole person, using martial arts training as a tool to help students become more confident, self-disciplined, and independent.

“Our vision statement is simple: we exist to use the physical and mental training available in martial arts to develop the character and skills of our students,” Carson explained. “We want to create opportunities and prevent the loss of opportunities for everyone we work with, for our students, for our families, for our instructors and our employees. We believe that everybody should have more opportunities in life because of what we are doing.”

Each family that walks through the doors of Empower ATA Martial Arts comes with different goals. Some parents want their children to learn self-defense, while others are looking for a structured way to develop focus, respect, or self-confidence. The school’s curriculum addresses all these needs through four key areas:

✔ Discipline – Teaching students focus, respect, and perseverance.
✔ Confidence – Helping kids overcome fear, try new things, and advocate for themselves.
✔ Physical Fitness – Encouraging strength, flexibility, and an active lifestyle.
✔ Self-Defense – Training in both physical techniques and mental awareness.

Carson is particularly passionate about helping kids develop independence. “The ultimate goal of all martial arts is to develop an independent human being,” he said. “It’s about developing people who don’t need to be constantly disciplined by others, who can stand up for themselves, and who are capable of making good choices on their own.”

Training for Life

One thing that sets Empower ATA Martial Arts apart from other martial arts schools is how they adapt their teaching to different age groups.

• The “Tiger” Program (Ages 4-6): Uses simplified movements and fun, engaging lessons to teach focus, coordination, and listening skills.
• Martial Arts Kids (Ages 7-12): As students grow, they work toward independence, development of life skills, positive mental attitude, goal setting, perseverance and confidence.
• Teens & Adult Programs: Focuses on mastering advanced techniques, physical fitness, increased mental focus and strength, as well as self defense skills.

Carson believes in challenging students rather than lowering expectations based on their age. He is passionate about speaking to kids in a way that “causes them to step up, not step down.” Carson said, “I cringe and part of my heart just like withers when I hear somebody say, ‘Well, they’re just a kid.’” He teaches the mindset that kids are capable of so much more than they are sometimes given credit for and by setting the bar high, children are taught that others believe in their potential and they rise to the challenge.

And the results speak for themselves. Many students stick with the program for years, developing into disciplined, confident young adults. “Some of our students have been with at our school for eight or nine years at this point, and we have some students that are brand new.” Carson shared. “Our sport is not seasonal, although we have some students that will take time off [for seasonal sports], but martial arts is a rear around thing.”

A Growing Martial Arts Community in Salem

Empower ATA Martial Arts’ impact has expanded beyond a single location. In October 2024, Carson and his team opened a second school on Lancaster Drive in Salem. With about 200 students in Keizer and already 60+ in the new location, the demand for quality martial arts training in the area is clear.

But for Carson, growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s also about empowering the next generation of instructors. “This season has provided a new challenge as a business owner operator,” he admitted. It’s no longer just about being the best instructor. Now, Carson’s role is to train and equip others to lead, to make sure they’re set up for success, just like they do with their students. “I have found that I absolutely love teaching students…but one thing I’ve discovered over the years is that when I have trained an instructor, and I see the instructor I’ve trained, get the student successful, when I see two other people create a connection because of something that I started, that gets me more pumped now for expansion.” Carson enthused.

He’s also committed to ensuring that his instructors have a strong work-life balance, something that isn’t always common in martial arts schools. Carson’s belief is, “If we can design a martial arts school that equips my employees to enjoy their family life more because they’re a martial arts instructor, it is natural that they’ll provide better classes to their people, because they themselves are investing in their family.” For that reason, Carson has decided not to do Saturday classes. Some people wish they did, “but the reason is because we want our instructors to be able to connect to their families and then come back next week strong,” Carson explains.

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom: Competition & Community

Empower ATA Martial Arts is part of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), which means students have access to a structured competition circuit. Whether a student trains for fun or has dreams of competing at a high level, tournaments provide an exciting way to test their skills.

Carson, who holds the rank of seventh degree black belt, has been competing since he was 12 and loves passing that experience on to his students. “The really cool thing about that [being part of the ATA ] is it means that if we go to a tournament, we have what’s called a closed tournament circuit. So, if we go to a tournament, we could have somebody coming up from Santiago, Chile, and they’re doing the same white belt form, orange belt form, yellow belt form, we are. So, the judges know what they’re looking at when they’re judging the forms,” Carson explained.

The good news is the ATA has granted Empower ATA Martial Arts permission to host one of these closed tournaments. “I think in the end of 2025, we’ll have our first opportunity to do so and that’ll be great. We’ve got some good opportunities coming up,” Carson shared with a sense of excitement.

Carson’s Connection to Salem & a Few of His Favorite Local Places

As someone who grew up in Salem, Carson appreciates the balance the city offers. ” What I love about Salem is, I’m not a small-town person. I’m not a big city person. So, Salem’s like the perfect one for me— I enjoy the fact that you can meet new people, but also it’s not so huge that it’s overwhelming,” Carson shared.

When he’s not teaching martial arts, you might find him and his kids jumping at Get Air Trampoline Park or indulging in a meal at Bo & Vine. Carson revealed, “I like Bo and Vine way too much. I shouldn’t like it as much as I do. It’s not necessarily good for me to like it as much as I do. But man, the bacon ranch fry piles…I get the fry pile and a burger because I can’t choose, and then afterwards I can’t quite finish them both because I couldn’t choose…and I’ll do the same thing the next time!” he laughed.

Try a Class & Experience the Difference

For anyone curious about trying martial arts, Empower ATA Martial Arts makes it easy by offering everybody a low priced introductory special that includes a free uniform and the chance to experience a class firsthand.

Carson is upfront about his goal: “Obviously, we want to brainwash everyone into becoming lifelong martial artists,” he joked. Because martial arts is a hands-on experience, the best way to know if it is a good fit is to give it a try. You or your child just might fall in love with it the way Carson did.

Learn more and sign up directly at empoweratama.com to get started at either the Salem or Keizer location.

*Photos courtesy of Empower ATA Martial Arts Facebook page and website