Determining the metaphorical perceptions of combat sports participants in various age categories about combat sports branches

This research was conducted in order to determine the metaphorical perceptions of combat sports participants in different age categories regarding the branches of Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Aikido. The research used the phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study was conducted with the participation of 363 volunteer athletes aged 7 and over who were training in private sports clubs affiliated to Isparta Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate. Data were collected through a form consisting of open-ended questions. The first part of the form included demographic information of the participants, and the second part included sentence completions structured as "Karate is like …; because …" for each branch. The participants were asked to express their perceptions towards the branches of Karate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Aikido in this way. The obtained data were analyzed using the qualitative data analysis program called MaxQDA; a total of 221 metaphors were identified. Chi-square test was applied in order to examine the relationship between metaphors. Metaphors were classified under 11 thematic categories by the researcher, taking into account the integrity of meaning. According to the research findings, the most frequently used metaphor type in all branches was ''Branch-Specific Terms''. In addition, it was concluded that the participants perceived sports branches not only as a means of competition but also as a way of life and personal development that supported mental, emotional and social development.