About Instructors

Instructor Mike Bachelor 2nd Degree Black Belt PCK and WDK

Mike Bachelor is a former 82nd Airborne Paratrooper and is currently in the Army National Guard.  His military deployments include the Sinai Egypt and Israel, Grenada, Panama, Iraq OIF II, and most recently to the Philippine Islands in support of Balikitan 2006.

Mike started his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do at age 10.  He continued until his instructor had a back injury forcing the school to close.  Around age 12, Mike started training in Jiu-Jitsu at his Junior High.  He had a break in training until entering the Army at age 19 where he received combatives and other specialized training throughout his enlistment with the 82nd Airborne. 

After an honorable discharge from active duty, Mike started training under Milton Fong, a student of Melvin Quan who trained directly under Bruce Lee in the Los Angeles studio.  The style "San Kune Do" was based in Jeet Kune Do and traditional Kung Fu, integrated with Aikido, Judo, and grappling.  After training for about 3 years under Sifu Fong, the school closed, forcing Mike to look for a new school.

Mike moved to Rancho Cucamonga, CA and had the good fortune of meeting Master Jerry Druckerman, certified by Grand Master Jimmy Woo, and trained in San Soo Kung Fu until he moved to Joshua Tree, CA. in 1995.  Mike's good luck continued when he met his new neighbor, Gene Wagner, a former student of Joe Dimmick a first generation Master under Ed Parker.  Mike trained under Gene Wagner in American Kenpo Karate until his work schedule began to conflict with the training times offered.

Mike began training under Ed Hutchison, a student of JT Will, also a first generation master under Ed Parker. In April 2000, Mike received his 1st Degree Black belt and Instructor certification in Dragon Kenpo.  Mike started teaching and continued to train until the cowardly attacks on September 11, 2001.  Mike re-entered the service in the Army National Guard.  He poured his time and efforts into his military training and was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom in November 2003.  After Mike's return to the United States in March of 2005, Mike resumed his Martial Arts training with a passion.

Currently Mike Bachelor holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Progressive Combat Kenpo and World Dragon Kenpo.  Mike is teaching Progressive Combat Kenpo at the Rocky Mountain Health Club in Estes Park, Colorado.  He also continues training in World Dragon Kenpo under Ron Pfeiffer and is a certified instructor with privileges to promote under World Dragon Kenpo and the International Dragon Kenpo Association.  Links to the WDK and the IDKA can be found throughout the site.  Mike is continuing Mixed Martial Arts training under his fellow instructor Jesse Pollock.

You can email Mike at: Mike@progressivecombatkenpo.com

Mike Bachelor 

Instructor Jesse Pollock 1st Degree Black Belt PCK and WDK

Jesse Pollock began his martial arts career at the tender age of 5 when his mother signed him up for Tae Kwon Do. Jesse practiced Tae Kwon Do for 2-3 years until he found a new love in pre high school/high school athletics (Football, Baseball, Wrestling, Track and Field). In 1997 Jesse graduated High School and moved to Southern California. Upon arrival there he opened the yellow pages and found High Desert Kendo. This became Jesse’s new passion. Under the tutelage of Sensei Troy DeHart, Jesse practiced Kendo  3-4 nights a week. When not practicing at High Desert Kendo he would make the 2 hour one way trip to the Los Angeles area to study at several of the Kendo schools there. Many of these schools were Japanese speaking only, instructed by 7^th and 8^th degree black belts, and practiced with intensity uncommon to anywhere in the U.S. During this time Jesse competed successfully in several tournaments and participated in numerous martial arts seminars.

At High Desert Kendo Jesse also practiced Iaido, Jodo, Kobudo, Showa No Shotokan Karate, and Daito Ryu Aikijujitsu. When not doing Kendo he was training at the local Aikido, Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, and Goju Ryu Karate schools. Jesse earned the rank of 3^rd Kyu in Kendo and was given an honorary black belt in Showa No Shotokan Karate. In April of 2000 Jesse enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Security Police Officer.

While in the Air Force Jesse was trained and certified in USAF arrest control, Monadnock Baton, and Monadnock Defensive Tactics. Jesse used this and past training to quell several duty related altercations. These real life applications of the martial arts brought new life an understanding to Jesse’s training. Jesse continued his Kendo training by studying off and on at the Rocky Mountain Budokan. This ceased in 2002 when Jesse was deployed to Kuwait in support of Operationa Iraqi Freedom. In mid 2003 Jesse started planning his future outside of the military in civilian law enforcement. After speaking with several civilian defensive tactics instructors Jesse was directed to Sensei Shane Pitts at the House of Judo and Jiujitsu. Jesse studied there for about 6 months before he was derailed by injuries. In early 2004 Jesse returned to find the school had been changed to High Altitude Martial Arts under Ultimate Fighter and King of Pancrase, Sensei Nate Marquardt. Jesse studied Brazilian Jiujitsu and MMA there on a full time basis until about September of 2004 when he was hired onto a civilian police force and started the police academy. Throughout the academy Jesse continued training with and teaching fellow cadets before or after class several days a week. During the defensive tactics portion of the academy Jesse held his own and even "tapped out" about half of the instructors. Jesse earned top arrest control honors in his academy class.

After completing the academy Jesse moved to northern Colorado and began practicing at Tri-Town Brazilian Jiujitsu where he eventually earned his blue belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu. Jesse stopped practice at TTBJJ in late 2005. He now trains and teaches fellow police officers at his agency in MMA. He continues to train off and on in Kendo, Judo, Aikido, and Jiujitsu. If not training in traditional martial arts, Jesse focuses his training on boxing, muay thai, and submission wrestling. He currently holds certification in PPCT (DT, Baton, GAGE) and PR-24. Although no official instructor positions have opened at his agency, he is always called upon during department trainings to assist with instruction. In mid 2006 Jesse met Mike Bachelor and began assisting in the development of Progressive Combat Kenpo.  Along with other belts and certifications. Jesse Pollock currently holds a 1st Degree Black Belt in Progressive Combat Kenpo and World Dragon Kenpo.  Jesse is a Certified Instructor in Progressive Combat Kenpo and is working towards Instructor Certification in World Dragon Kenpo.

You can email Jesse at: Jesse@progressivecombatkenpo.com