The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) “Amateur” means a person who has never received nor competed for any purse or other article of value, either for expenses of training or for participating in an event, other than a prize of fifty dollars in value or less.

(2) “Amateur event” means an event in which all the participants are “amateurs” and which is registered and sanctioned by:

(a) United States Amateur Boxing, Inc.;

(b) Washington Interscholastic Activities Association;

(c) National Collegiate Athletic Association;

(d) Amateur Athletic Union;

(e) Golden Gloves of America;

(f) Any similar organization nationally recognized by the United States Olympic Committee;

(g) United Full Contact Federation and any similar amateur sanctioning organization, recognized and licensed by the department as exclusively or primarily dedicated to advancing the sport of amateur mixed martial arts, as those sports are defined in this section and where the promoter, officials, and participants are licensed under this chapter; or

(h) Local affiliate of any organization identified in (a) through (f) of this subsection.

(3) “Boxing” means the sport of attack and defense which uses the contestants fists and where the contestants compete with the intent not to injure or disable an opponent, but to win by decision, knockout, or technical knockout, but does not include professional wrestling.

(4) “Chiropractor” means a person licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW as a doctor of chiropractic or under the laws of any jurisdiction in which that person resides.

(5) “Combative fighting,” also known as “toughman fighting,” “toughwoman fighting,” “badman fighting,” and “so you think you’re tough,” means a contest, exhibition, or match between contestants who use their fists, with or without gloves, or their feet, or both, and which allows contestants that are not trained in the sport to compete and the object is to defeat an opponent or to win by decision, knockout, or technical knockout.

(6) “Department” means the department of licensing.

(7) “Director” means the director of the department of licensing or the director’s designee.

(8) “Elimination tournament” means any contest in which contestants compete in a series of matches until not more than one contestant remains in any weight category. The term does not include any event that complies with the provisions of RCW 67.08.015(2).

(9) “Event” includes, but is not limited to, a professional boxing, wrestling, or martial arts or an amateur mixed martial arts contest, sparring, fisticuffs, match, show, or exhibition.

(10) “Event chiropractor” means the chiropractor licensed under RCW 67.08.100 and who is operating in a supporting role to the event physician who is responsible for the activities described in RCW 67.08.090.

(11) “Event physician” means the physician licensed under RCW 67.08.100 and who is responsible for the activities described in RCW 67.08.090.

(12) “Face value” means the dollar value of a ticket or order, which value must reflect the dollar amount that the customer is required to pay or, for a complimentary ticket, would have been required to pay to purchase a ticket with equivalent seating priority, in order to view the event.

(13) “Gross receipts” means the amount received from the face value of all tickets sold and complimentary tickets redeemed.

(14) “Kickboxing” means a type of boxing in which blows are delivered with the fist and any part of the leg below the hip, including the foot and where the contestants compete with the intent not to injure or disable an opponent, but to win by decision, knockout, or technical knockout.

(15) “Martial arts” means a type of boxing including sumo, judo, karate, kung fu, tae kwon do, pankration, muay thai, or other forms of full-contact martial arts or self-defense conducted on a full-contact basis where weapons are not used and the participants utilize kicks, punches, blows, or other techniques with the intent not to injure or disable an opponent, but to defeat an opponent or win by decision, knockout, technical knockout, or submission.

(16) “Mixed martial arts” means a combative sporting contest, the rules of which allow two mixed martial arts competitors to attempt to achieve dominance over one another by utilizing a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, striking, grappling, and the application of submission holds. “Mixed martial arts” is a type of martial arts that does not include martial arts such as tae kwon do, karate, judo, sumo, jujitsu, and kung fu.

(17) “No holds barred fighting,” also known as “frontier fighting” and “extreme fighting,” means a contest, exhibition, or match between contestants where any part of the contestant’s body may be used as a weapon or any means of fighting may be used with the specific purpose to intentionally injure the other contestant in such a manner that they may not defend themselves and a winner is declared. Rules may or may not be used.

(18) “Physician” means a person licensed under chapter 18.57, 18.36A, or 18.71 RCW as a physician or a person holding an osteopathic or allopathic physician license under the laws of any jurisdiction in which the person resides.

(19) “Professional” means a person who has received or competed for any purse or other articles of value greater than fifty dollars, either for the expenses of training or for participating in an event.

(20) “Promoter” means a person, and includes any officer, director, employee, or stockholder of a corporate promoter, who produces, arranges, stages, holds, or gives an event in this state involving a professional boxing, martial arts, or wrestling event or amateur mixed martial arts event, or shows or causes to be shown in this state a closed circuit telecast of a match involving professional or amateur mixed martial arts participants whether or not the telecast originates in this state.

(21) “Theatrical wrestling” means the performance of sports entertainment in which:

(a) Two or more participants work together in a performance of mock combat in a ring for the purpose of entertainment; and

(b)(i) The outcome is predetermined; and/or

(ii) The participants do not necessarily strive to win.

(22) “Theatrical wrestling school” means a facility that offers training in theatrical wrestling.

(23) “Training facility” means a facility that:

(a) Offers training in one or more of the mixed martial arts; and

(b) Holds exhibitions in which all the participants are amateurs and where an admission fee is charged.

(24) “Wrestling exhibition,” “wrestling show,” or “wrestling event” means a demonstration of theatrical wrestling presented to the public.

Findings—2017 c 46: See note following RCW 67.08.330.

Effective date—2004 c 149: “This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [March 26, 2004].” [ 2004 c 149 § 3.]

Effective date—2002 c 147: “This act takes effect January 1, 2003.” [ 2002 c 147 § 4.]