Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18620. Section 18620.
The definitions contained in this article shall be for terms used in this chapter and shall be applicable unless otherwise specifically provided.
ARTICLE 2. General Provisions [18620. - 18631.]
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 2.
in effectCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18621. Section 18621.
“Commission” means the State Athletic Commission.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18622. Section 18622.
The words “club” and “promoter” are synonomous, may be used interchangeably, and mean a corporation, partnership, association, individual, or other organization which conducts, holds, or gives a boxing or martial arts contest, match, or exhibition.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18623. Section 18623.
A professional or amateur boxer or martial arts fighter is one who engages in a boxing or martial arts contest and who possesses fundamental skills in his or her respective sport.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18624. Section 18624.
“Committee” means an advisory committee on medical and safety standards created by this article.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18625. Section 18625.
(a)
As described in the specific provisions of the act, whether referring to a professional or amateur contest or match, the terms “contest” and “match” are synonymous, may be used interchangeably, include boxing, kickboxing, and martial arts exhibitions, and mean a fight, prizefight, boxing contest, pugilistic contest, kickboxing contest, martial arts contest, or sparring match, between two or more persons, where full contact is used or intended that may result or is intended to result in physical harm to the opponent.
(b)
(1)
An amateur contest or match includes a contest or match where full contact is used, even if
unintentionally.
(2)
An amateur contest or match does not include light contact karate, tae kwon do, judo, or any other light contact martial arts as approved by the commission and recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an Olympic sport.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18627. Section 18627.
(a)
“Martial arts” means any form of karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, kickboxing or any combination of full contact martial arts, including mixed martial arts, or self-defense conducted on a full contact basis where a weapon is not used.
(b)
“Kickboxing” means any form of boxing in which blows are delivered with the hand and any part of the leg below the hip, including the foot.
(c)
“Full contact” means the use of physical force in a martial arts contest that may result or is intended to result in physical harm to the opponent, including any contact that does not meet the definition of
light contact or noncontact.
(d)
“Light contact” means the use of controlled martial arts techniques whereby no contact to the face is permitted and no contact is permitted which may result or is intended to result in physical harm to the opponent.
(e)
“Noncontact” means that no contact occurs between either contestant.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18628. Section 18628.
“Manager” means any person who does any of the following:
(a)
By contract, agreement, or other arrangement with any person, undertakes or has undertaken to represent in any way the interest of any professional boxer, or martial arts fighter in procuring, or with respect to the arrangement or conduct of, any professional contest in which the boxer or fighter is to participate as a contestant; except that the term “manager” shall not be construed to mean any attorney licensed to practice in this state whose participation in these activities is restricted to representing the legal interests of a professional boxer or fighter as a client. Otherwise, an attorney shall be licensed as a manager in order to engage in any of the activities described in this section.
(b)
Directs or controls the professional boxing or martial arts activities of any professional boxer or martial arts fighter.
(c)
Receives or is entitled to receive more than 10 percent of the gross purse of any professional boxer or martial arts fighter for any services relating to such person’s participation in a professional contest.
(d)
Is an officer, director, shareholder, or member of any corporation or organization which receives, or is entitled to receive more than 10 percent of the gross purse of any professional boxer or martial arts fighter for any services relating to the person’s participation in a professional contest.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18629. Section 18629.
“School, college, or university” means a secondary school, the University of California, a California State University, public community college, or any other private, postsecondary educational institution meeting the requirements of Section 94739, or Article 8 (commencing with Section 94900) or Article 9 (commencing with Section 94915) of Chapter 7 of Part 59 of the Education Code.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18630. Section 18630.
“Proprietary interest” means any membership, coownership, stock ownership, legal or beneficial interest, profit-sharing arrangement, or other proprietary interest, designated arranged or held, directly or indirectly in any form.
Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18631. Section 18631.
“License” as used in this chapter also includes a “permit”.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026