ARTICLE 9. Martial Arts [18760. - 18770.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 9.
in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18760. Section 18760.

Except as otherwise provided by this article, “boxing” as used in this chapter includes “kickboxing” and “martial arts.” Sections 18720, 18721, 18723, 18725, 18728, 18755, and 18756, and Article 15 (commencing with Section 18870) shall not apply to kickboxing and martial arts.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18761. Section 18761.

Rules and regulations of the commission relating to professional boxing shall apply to kickboxing and martial arts, except where specifically excluded by the commission’s regulations.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18765. Section 18765.

The commission shall, by rule and regulation, prescribe the length and duration of professional and amateur kickboxing and martial arts contests, the weight classifications, the manner in which the contestants engage in such contests, and such further safeguards and conditions as shall insure fair, sportsmanlike, and scientific contests. No contest shall be conducted unless each contestant uses protective gear approved by the commission.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18768. Section 18768.

The commission shall not function as a sanctioning body, nor shall it grant titles to fighters or to individual events. This function shall be retained by such professional and amateur full-contact kickboxing and martial arts associations operating on a local, statewide, regional, national or international level, which shall, when operating in California, observe such rules and regulations adopted by the commission.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18769. Section 18769.

(a) The commission may appoint an advisory committee to advise the commission on the provisions of this article. (b) The advisory committee shall be composed of individuals, residing in California, who have prior to their appointment, been promoters, fighters, trainers, managers, or officials in publicly held kickboxing or full-contact martial arts events. (c) The advisory committee may elect its own officers.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 18770. Section 18770.

(a) (1) The commission shall establish an advisory pankration subcommittee to investigate the rules and conduct of contests involving or claiming to involve pankration by persons under 18 years of age, or any style deemed by the subcommittee to be sufficiently similar thereto. (2) The pankration subcommittee shall consist of three members of the commission. (b) The subcommittee shall meet and examine the following matters, including, but not limited to: (1) In general, the legality and safety of the contests described in subdivision (a). (2) Whether or not legislation should be enacted to impose age-based requirements or restrictions, which may include a prohibition on participants engaging in the contests described in subdivision (a). (3) Appropriate safety precautions for persons under 18 years of age engaging in the contests described in subdivision (a). (c) By July 1, 2014, the subcommittee shall make recommendations to the commission regarding any legislative changes to be enacted that may be necessary to improve the commission’s regulation and oversight of the contests described in subdivision (a) in order to adequately protect participants.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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