Ark. Code Ann. » Title 17 Chapter 22
Arkansas Code Annotated

Ark. Code Ann. § 17-22-101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter:

  1. “Amateur” means a person who has never received nor competed for any purse or other compensation in an amount that exceeds the sum established by the State Athletic Commission in its rules for:
    1. Expenses of training; or
    2. Participating in a combative sports contest or exhibition;
  2. “Boxing” means to compete with the fists;
    1. “Combative sports” means boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, martial arts, Muay Thai, or any combination thereof, or any form of hand-to-hand, elbow-and-foot, or foot-and-leg competition in which:
      1. A blow is struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury; or
      2. A surface for fighting is used that may reasonably be expected to inflict injury.
    2. “Combative sports” does not include student training or an exhibition of a student's skill when:
      1. Conducted by a martial arts school or an association of martial arts schools;
      2. The student's participation is for health and recreational purposes rather than competition;
      3. The intent is to use only partial contact; and
      4. The scoring technique is based only on points.
    3. “Combative sports” does not include professional wrestling;
  4. “Exhibition” means any engagement in which the participants show or display their skills without necessarily striving to win;
  5. “Kick boxing” 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;
  6. “Manager” means any person who directly or indirectly controls or administers the combative sports affairs of any professional participant of the same;
  7. “Martial arts” or “mixed martial arts” means any discipline in which the participants utilize kicks, punches, blows, strikes, or other techniques, including without limitation any form of judo, kung fu, karate, and tae kwon do, ju jitsu, or any combination thereof;
  8. “Match” means any engagement in which the participants show or display their skills while striving in good faith to win;
  9. “Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or club;
  10. “Professional” means an individual who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and who, as a means of obtaining pecuniary gain:
    1. Competes for money, prizes, or purses in combative sports contests or exhibitions; or
    2. Teaches, instructs, or assists in the practice of professional combative sports;
  11. “Professional wrestling” means an event or form of combat between two (2) or more participants, whether the outcome is predetermined or not, in which a participant:
    1. Delivers or appears to deliver blows to his or her opponent's body;
    2. Executes throws to his or her opponent's body; or
    3. Applies holds to his or her opponent's body;
  12. “Promoter” means any person, club, organization, corporation, or association, and in the case of a corporate promoter includes any officer, director, employee, or stockholder thereof who produces, arranges, or stages any professional boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, or martial arts match or exhibition; and
  13. “Wrestling” means any form of combat between two (2) or more participants in which a participant delivers blows to his or her opponent's body, executes throws to his or her opponent's body, or applies holds to his or her opponent's body.

History. Acts 1999, No. 1085, § 1; 2009, No. 781, § 1; 2013, No. 1096, § 1; 2017, No. 252, § 2; 2019, No. 386, § 7; 2019, No. 923, § 1.

Amendments. The 2009 amendment rewrote (1); inserted (3) and (13), deleted (12) and former (13), and redesignated the remaining subdivisions accordingly; substituted “combative sports” for “wrestling, boxing, kick boxing, or martial arts” in (7); inserted “or ‘mixed martial arts’” and “ju jitsu” in (8); rewrote (11); and made related and minor stylistic changes.

The 2013 amendment rewrote (3)(A); added (3)(B)(iv); inserted present (12) and redesignated the remaining subdivisions accordingly.

The 2017 amendment substituted “As used in this chapter” for “For purposes of this chapter” in the introductory language.

The 2019 amendment by No. 386 deleted former (4).

The 2019 amendment by No. 923 added (3)(C).

Subchapter 2 — State Athletic Commission

Effective Dates. Acts 1927, No. 131, § 9: approved Mar. 9, 1927. Emergency clause provided: “This act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, of the State of Arkansas, shall be in force and effect from and after its passage.”

Acts 1997, No. 250, § 258: Feb. 24, 1997. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and determined by the General Assembly that Act 1211 of 1995 established the procedure for all state boards and commissions to follow regarding reimbursement of expenses and stipends for board members; that this act amends various sections of the Arkansas Code which are in conflict with the Act 1211 of 1995; and that until this cleanup act becomes effective conflicting laws will exist. Therefore an emergency is declared to exist and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall become effective on the date of its approval by the Governor. If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governer, it shall become effective on the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill. If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, it shall become effective on the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 1999, No. 1085, § 13: Apr. 5, 1999. Emergency clause provided: “It is hereby found and determined by the Eighty-second General Assembly that this act is necessary to continue a tradition of permitting nonprofit corporations to utilize athletic events as fund raisers; that this act is necessary to ensure the safety of participants in martial arts competitions, an area currently unregulated by state law; that additional funding mechanisms contained in this bill are necessary to provide increased oversight and regulation of matches and exhibitions to ensure the safety of the participants; and that the public health, welfare and safety are dependent upon the immediate enactment of this act upon its passage. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety shall become effective on the date of its approval by the Governor. If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor, it shall become effective on the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the bill. If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is overridden, it shall become effective on the date the last house overrides the veto.”

Acts 2013, No. 482, § 3: July 1, 2013. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that this act transfers the Arkansas State Athletic Commission to the Arkansas Department of Health; that to effectively administer this act the transition should occur at the beginning of the next fiscal year; and that the effectiveness of this act on July 1, 2013, is essential to the operation of the agencies. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist and this act being necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on July 1, 2013.”

Acts 2019, No. 910, § 6346(b): July 1, 2019. Emergency clause provided: “It is found and determined by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that this act revises the duties of certain state entities; that this act establishes new departments of the state; that these revisions impact the expenses and operations of state government; and that the sections of this act other than the two uncodified sections of this act preceding the emergency clause titled ‘Funding and classification of cabinet-level department secretaries’ and ‘Transformation and Efficiencies Act transition team’ should become effective at the beginning of the fiscal year to allow for implementation of the new provisions at the beginning of the fiscal year. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and Sections 1 through 6343 of this act being necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall become effective on July 1, 2019”.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1988–2004 · leading case: Wilcox v. Safley, 766 S.W.2d 12 (Ark. 1989).
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Wilcox v. Safley, 766 S.W.2d 12 (Ark. 1989). · cites it 21× “In 1982 appellee William Safley d/b/a Safley Construction Company was awarded a contract as the prime contractor for the construction of a sewer system in Faulkner County, known as the "Mayflower Wastewater Collection System.”
Brimer v. Arkansas Contractors Licensing Bd., 849 S.W.2d 948 (Ark. 1993). · cites it 6× “(Brimer) for acting as a contractor without a license in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 17-22-101 (1987). Weagree and affirm.”
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Bd. v. Butler Constr. Co., 748 S.W.2d 129 (Ark. 1988). · cites it 4× “The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, after a hearing, determined that Butler had undertaken to erect the clinic without a contractor’s license, in violation of Act 150 of 1965, codified as Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-22-101 et seq. (1987) [Ark.”
Meadow Lake Farms, Inc. v. Cooper, 200 S.W.3d 399 (Ark. 2004). · cites it 7× “We held that the language of Ark. Code Ann. § 17-22-101 (a) (Supp. 1987), which is now codified at § 17-25-101(a)(l) (Repl.”
Urrey Ceramic Tile Co. Inc. v. Mosley, 805 S.W.2d 54 (Ark. 1991). · cites it 2× “However, no lien may be acquired for any material, fixture, engine boiler, or machinery furnished prior to the receipt of notice by the owner or his authorized agent.”
Seyller v. Pierce & Co., 816 S.W.2d 577 (Ark. 1991). “The commercial construction exception, section 18-44-115(f), reads as follows: The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to commercial and industrial construction performed by contractors licensed under § 17-22-101 et seq. As was previously stated, it was SBM d/b/a…”
Johnson v. S. Elec., Inc., 779 S.W.2d 190 (Ark. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “Milburn, although not licensed as a contractor under Ark. Code Ann. § 17-22-101 et seq. (1987), was familiar with the construction industry, having acted as general contractor and in a supervisory capacity on a number of construction projects.”
— Ark. Code Ann. § 17-22-101(a) — 1 case
Wilcox v. Safley, 766 S.W.2d 12 (Ark. 1989). “In 1982 appellee William Safley d/b/a Safley Construction Company was awarded a contract as the prime contractor for the construction of a sewer system in Faulkner County, known as the "Mayflower Wastewater Collection System.”
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