Effective 01 Jul 2008, see footnote

317.001. Definitions. — As used in sections 317.001 to 317.021, the following words and terms mean:

(1) "Amateur", a person who competes in a boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate event who has not competed as a contestant for valuable consideration in any event in which similar boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate skills were used or allowed;

(2) "Bout", one match involving professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, or professional full-contact karate, including professional mixed martial arts;

(3) "Boxing", the sport of attack and defense where contestants are allowed to only use the fist to attack or strike in competition;

(4) "Combative fighting", a bout or contest, with or without gloves or protective headgear, whereby any part of the contestant's body may be used as a weapon or any other means of fighting may be used with the specific purpose of intentionally injuring the other contestants in such a manner that they may not defend themselves and in which there is no referee;

(5) "Contest", a bout or a group of bouts involving licensed contestants competing in professional boxing, sparring, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, or professional full-contact karate;

(6) "Contestant", a person who competes in any boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate event;

(7) "Director", the director of the division of professional registration;

(8) "Division", the division of professional registration;

(9) "Exhibition", a boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate engagement in which persons are participating to show or display their boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate skill and in which no decision is rendered;

(10) "Full-contact karate", any form of full-contact martial arts including, but not limited to, full-contact kungfu, full-contact tae kwon do, or any form of martial arts, mixed martial arts, combat or self-defense conducted on a full-contact basis in a match where contestants are allowed to deliver blows or strikes;

(11) "Fund", the athletic fund established pursuant to sections 317.001 to 317.021;

(12) "Kickboxing", any match in which contestants are allowed to use any form of boxing and are also allowed to use any part of the fist, foot, or leg, with or without shin guards or protective gear, or any combination thereof to deliver strikes above the waist and which does not constitute mixed martial arts as defined by this section;

(13) "Mixed martial arts", any match in which any form of martial arts or self-defense is conducted on a full-contact basis and where other combative techniques or tactics are allowed in competition including, but not limited to, kicking, striking, chokeholds, boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, grappling, or joint manipulation. Professional mixed martial arts is a form of full-contact karate;

(14) "Office", the division of professional registration, office of athletics;

(15) "Professional", a wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, or full-contact karate bout or contest where the participants compete for any valuable consideration or a person who competes in any wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, or full-contact karate bout or contest for any such consideration;

(16) "Sparring", any boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, or full-contact karate conducted for practice and for which admission or other similar consideration, in any form, is charged to any member of the public;

(17) "Wrestling", any performance of wrestling skills and techniques by two or more individuals. Participating wrestlers may perform without being required to use their best efforts in order to win and the winner may have been selected before the performance commences.

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(L. 1983 H.B. 635 § 1, A.L. 1996 S.B. 524, A.L. 2007 H.B. 780 merged with S.B. 308)

Effective 7-01-08