                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 54.1-828)

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Amateur&#8221; means an individual who has never participated in a
boxing, martial arts, or professional wrestling event for money, compensation,
or reward other than a suitably inscribed memento.
		&#8220;Boxer&#8221; means a person competing in the sport of boxing.
		&#8220;Boxing&#8221; means the contact sport of attack or defense using fists.
		&#8220;Cable television system&#8221; means any facility consisting of a set
of closed transmission paths and associated equipment designed to provide video
programming to multiple subscribers when subscriber interaction is required to
select a specific video program for an access fee established by the cable
television system for that specific video program.
		&#8220;Contractor&#8221; means any person who has been recognized by the
Director, through a contract pursuant to § 54.1-832, as an appropriate
responsible party to provide services to assist the Commonwealth in complying
with the provisions of this chapter.
		&#8220;Department&#8221; means the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation or its successor.
		&#8220;Director&#8221; means the Director of the Department of Professional
and Occupational Regulation.
		&#8220;Event&#8221; means any boxing, martial arts, or professional wrestling
show that includes one or more bouts, contests, or matches.
		&#8220;Exhibition bout&#8221; means a bout that is part of any martial arts or
professional boxing event in which boxers or martial artists show or display
skills without a declared winner.
		&#8220;Manager&#8221; means any person who serves as a representative or agent
of a boxer, martial artist, or professional wrestler to arrange for his
participation in an event.
		&#8220;Martial artist&#8221; means a person competing in the sport of martial
arts.
		&#8220;Martial arts&#8221; or &#8220;mixed martial arts&#8221; means any of
several Asian arts of combat or self-defense, alone or in combination, including
aikido, karate, judo, muay thai, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as sport and
which may involve the use of striking weapons.
		&#8220;Matchmaker&#8221; means any person who proposes, selects, arranges for,
or in any manner procures specific individuals to be contestants in an event.
		&#8220;Person&#8221; means a natural person, corporation, partnership, sole
proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, or any other entity.
		&#8220;Professional&#8221; means a person who participates or has ever
participated for money, compensation, or reward other than a suitably inscribed
memento in any boxing, martial arts, or professional wrestling event.
		&#8220;Professional wrestler&#8221; means any professional participating in
professional wrestling.
		&#8220;Professional wrestling&#8221; means an event in which contestants
incorporate the sport of wrestling into choreographed performances.
		&#8220;Promote&#8221; or &#8220;promotion&#8221; means to organize, arrange,
publicize, or conduct an event or exhibition bout in the Commonwealth.
		&#8220;Promoter&#8221; means any person who undertakes to promote an event or
exhibition bout.
		&#8220;Regulant&#8221; means any person required by this chapter to obtain a
prior authorization from the Department.
		&#8220;Sanctioning organization&#8221; means an entity approved by the
Director pursuant to § 54.1-829.1.
		&#8220;Trainer,&#8221; &#8220;second,&#8221; or &#8220;cut man&#8221; means an
individual who undertakes to assure the well-being of a boxer or martial artist
by providing instruction or advice concerning techniques or strategies of boxing
or martial arts, and who may work in the corner with a boxer or martial artist
between the rounds of a match to assure his well-being and provide necessary
equipment and advice concerning match participation.
		&#8220;Wrestler&#8221; means any person competing or participating as an
opponent in wrestling.
		&#8220;Wrestling&#8221; means any of several styles of physical competition in
which individuals attempt to subdue or unbalance an opponent, including
Greco-Roman, freestyle, grappling, or submission, usually practiced as a sport.

HISTORY: 1998, c. 895; 2005, c. 287; 2015, cc. 216, 264; 2016, c. 756; 2025, cc.
95, 111.