PINKarate®

Creator, Liz Durning, holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate under 9th Degree Black Belt Dennis Nackord, and World Champion Joe Lewis. She is also a certified FASTDefense Instructor (www.fastdefense.com), and was a Volunteer Rape Counselor for Delaware County Women Against Rape for six years.  

Her vision of the Pinkarate program started almost 8 years ago, when she became so frustrated with girls quitting karate training, and more importantly, just not learning basic safety skills in the first place, that she thought "There's gotta be a better way!" So, she thought of where she could teach karate in a place where girls already go (ballet classes) and making the uniforms something girls would like to wear (Pink, what else!).  She started dying uniforms in her washing machine, approached a local ballet studio about utilizing any empty studio time they had, and the first Pinkarate classes formed in September, 2004.  In 2009, Pinkarate moved to Club La Maison, in Wayne, to accommodate her overflowing clients.

But, the story of why Pinkarate is such a personal mission for Liz runs much deeper than being a commercial success.  Liz knows first hand about bullying and being a shy kid.  "If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn't have endured those years of physical and mental anguish.  I don't want another girl to have to go through what I did."  Liz always wanted to take karate, even as a young girl.  However, her mother would have no part.  Little girls did not take "dangerous" karate classes.  However, her two older brothers did.  So, when she graduated college, and settled into her job in the advertising industry, she started to fulfill her lifelong dream...to be a Black Belt.   

Liz and her husband, John, a 6th Degree Black Belt, have owned and operated successful karate schools for almost 20 years. They have taught self defense classes to corporations, civic groups, churches, schools, and universities throughout the Delaware Valley.   They have two boys: Chase, who is 13 and a proud Black Belt in his own right, and Dash (yes, from "The Incredibles!") who is 5.

John teaches both boys and girls, as well as adults at Club La Maison on Tuesdays and Fridays. He also teaches in Bryn Mawr, PA on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
For more information on his programs, please contact Durning Karate at                             610-574-2655 or by email

                   John Durning teaching a class at the Bryn Mawr studio