In order for human beings to maintain their lives in a healthy way, the concept of “forgiveness”, which includes affective and cognitive processes such as regulating and controlling emotional state, has an important place. It can be stated that the framework of the living space is formed by socialization, mutual relations and cognitive control. Therefore, the individual’s ability to lead his/her life in a healthy way in his/her work and family and social environment can be associated with the forgiveness flexibility. Forgiveness is not condoning all the injustices done to us or tolerating the repetition of the mistakes made (Edward, 2007). Sportsmanship is a universal value (Özsarı and Pepe, 2021). This value is also used to mean maintaining the determination to respect honesty, fairness and rules while striving to achieve goals (Robinson, 2009). The concept of sportsmanship, which includes the concepts of sincerity, patience, self-control, respecting the ideas and opinions of others, politeness, nobility, partnership and generosity (Keating, 2003), can be related to having the flexibility to forgive.

The idea that sportsmanship orientation can increase the forgiveness flexibility of athletes and that this situation can have a significant effect on athlete success constitutes the motivation of the current study. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to reveal the relationship between the forgiveness flexibility of karate athletes and their sportsmanship orientation. The results that will emerge are important in terms of shedding light for athletes, referees, trainers and sports scientists.