Investigation of Personal and Social Sports Identities of Elite National Karate Players via Self Identity Chart

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate ideal and non-ideal image of six Turkish national players and their cognitive representation of karate players. This study was carried out with six young adult elite karate athletes who were successful in national and international tournaments attending the Department of Physical Education and Sports. The data of this study were collected via repertory grid, a semi-structured interview technique. Self-identity graph of each participant was obtained and analyzed based on repertory grid data. The findings show that all the participants’ personal and social sport identities, except one participant, are positive. İn the study, it was found that the participants with high self-esteem defined themselves as karate players with positive personal constructs of ideal self and social self. As a result, this study shows that the self-identity graph will provide functional information in revealing -athletes’- sports-related self esteem, personel and social sports identities. This study has carried out about young adult elit karete players in Turkey suceessed at national and international tournament. With Studies which will do in the future, it may be revealed ameteur, young and junior karete players’ personal and social sport identity via self identity graph.