PINKarate®

Creator, Liz Durning, holds a 5th 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 14 years ago, when she became so frustrated with how few girls were training in karate, and more importantly, not being taught basic safety skills.  Liz had her "lightbulb" moment when she thought:  "There's gotta be a better way!"  So, she asked herself, "where do girls like to go?"  Where could girls be taught self defense and karate in a place where girls already go (ballet studio) and what would make girls want to wear a karate uniform?"  

Liz drew from her own childhood.  She grew up with three rough and tumble brothers.  As much as she pleaded for karate classes, her mother thought it was too "dangerous."  However, her mother never let her have a Barbie Doll, because she thought it was a bad role model.  But Liz still loved dresses and "Skipper" and helping mom bake, etc..

So, Liz decided to make her uniforms extra special... something girls would love to wear (Pink, what else!  with and extra "BLING" on the Logo)).  She started dying uniforms in her washing machine, and approached a new ballet studio, Wayne Ballet and Center For Dance Arts, about utilizing any empty studio time they had.  Turns out, Liz, and her husband John, had taught the owners' daughter when she was just about 5 years old.  The first Pinkarate classes were held in September of 2004.   As PINKarate expanded, the need for more space transitioned the program down the road, to Club La Maison, in Wayne, to accommodate her overflowing familes.

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 7th Degree Black Belt, have owned and operated successful karate schools for over 25 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 20, and a proud Adult Black Belt in his own right, and Dash (yes, from "The Incredibles!") who is 12, and a proud Green Belt.

John teaches both boys and girls, as well as adults.
For more information on his programs, please contact Durning Karate at                             610-574-2655 or by email

                                        BONUS!

PINKarate students are welcome to attend "Karate John's" classes as a "make-up"

      John Durning  

For more info on his classes, call Durning Karate at 610-574-2655