diff --git a/data/scripts/story4.lua b/data/scripts/story4.lua
index 598831ff..874a2b9c 100644
--- a/data/scripts/story4.lua
+++ b/data/scripts/story4.lua
@@ -171,6 +171,28 @@ local function dojoBall(species, ownBall, otherBall, askKey)
   end
 end
 
+-- FightingDojoDefaultScript does not use the Master's facing direction for
+-- this battle.  It checks exactly the cell left of him, turns both sprites
+-- toward one another, and then displays his trainer text.  Keeping this out
+-- of trainer sight also lets him keep his original downward-facing pose.
+local function dojoMasterGate(game, ow, x, y)
+  if x ~= 4 or y ~= 3 or game.save.flags.EVENT_BEAT_KARATE_MASTER then
+    return false
+  end
+  local master
+  for _, npc in ipairs(ow.npcs) do
+    if npc.def and npc.def.name == "FIGHTINGDOJO_KARATE_MASTER" then
+      master = npc
+      break
+    end
+  end
+  if not master or ow:trainerDefeated(master) then return false end
+  ow.player.facing = "right"
+  master:facePlayer(ow.player)
+  ow:engageTrainer(master)
+  return true
+end
+
 M.FIGHTING_DOJO = {
   talk = {
     TEXT_FIGHTINGDOJO_HITMONLEE_POKE_BALL =
@@ -197,6 +219,7 @@ M.FIGHTING_DOJO = {
     end
     return false
   end,
+  onStep = dojoMasterGate,
 }
 
 -- -------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/core/Data.lua b/src/core/Data.lua
index a68c050d..ae292d40 100644
--- a/src/core/Data.lua
+++ b/src/core/Data.lua
@@ -144,8 +144,8 @@ end
 -- no def_trainers row (DisplayTextID routes to his ASM script), so the
 -- extractor emits headers only for the four blackbelts ([2]..[5]).  Seed
 -- object index [1] so he behaves like the real leader:
---   * range 4 (matches the strongest blackbelt) -> CheckFightingMapTrainers
---     spots the player in his DOWN line and he challenges on sight (#197),
+--   * range 0: FightingDojoDefaultScript, not trainer sight, starts his
+--     battle from the single tile to his left (#495),
 --   * battle = his pre-battle challenge, won = "Hwa! Arrgh! Beaten!",
 --   * after = the "Stay and train at Karate with us!" re-talk line.
 -- Deliberately NO `event`: EVENT_BEAT_KARATE_MASTER is owned by
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ function Data:seedFightingDojoKarateMaster()
   headers.FightingDojo = headers.FightingDojo or {}
   if headers.FightingDojo[1] then return end
   headers.FightingDojo[1] = {
-    range = 4,
+    range = 0,
     battle = "_FightingDojoKarateMasterText",
     won = "_FightingDojoKarateMasterDefeatedText",
     after = "_FightingDojoKarateMasterStayAndTrainWithUsText",
diff --git a/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_bug197_test.lua b/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_bug197_test.lua
index 2fed34aa..ce529e1d 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_bug197_test.lua
+++ b/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_bug197_test.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 -- Driver: Fighting Dojo Karate Master bundle (#197).
 -- Six sub-bugs live in FIGHTING_DOJO (scripts/FightingDojo.asm):
---   BUG1 no aggro   -- the master has no trainer header so range=0
+--   BUG1 gate       -- the master stops the player on the tile to his left
 --   BUG2 no speech  -- no won text + no prize dialogue after the win
 --   BUG3 wrong re-talk -- shows the pre-battle challenge, not the after line
 --   BUG4 (verify)   -- the ball ask() is the Gen1 descriptor, not a dex entry
@@ -112,21 +112,23 @@ return function(game)
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
   local hdr = game.data:trainerHeader("FightingDojo", 1)
   check(hdr ~= nil, "BUG1/2/3: Karate Master trainer header (index 1) exists")
-  check(hdr and (hdr.range or 0) > 0, "BUG1: master has a sight range")
+  check(hdr and (hdr.range or 0) == 0,
+    "BUG1: master relies on the exact-tile gate, not trainer sight")
   check(hdr and hdr.won ~= nil, "BUG2: master has a won (defeat) text")
   check(hdr and hdr.after ~= nil, "BUG3: master has an after (re-talk) text")
 
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
-  -- BUG1: sight aggro.  Stand directly below the master (5,3 faces DOWN,
-  -- range 4) with the four blackbelts pre-cleared so only he can engage.
+  -- BUG1: exact gate. Start just north of the tile to the Master's left,
+  -- then step down once. The four blackbelts are cleared so only he reacts.
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
-  local ow = resetDojo(5, 4, "up", {})
+  local ow = resetDojo(4, 2, "down", {})
   U.shot(game, DIR .. "/dojo_1_before.png")
-  U.wait(20) -- the idle sight scan runs every frame
-  local engaged = ow.engaging or (ow.emote ~= nil)
-  U.log("aggro engaging:", tostring(ow.engaging), "emote:", tostring(ow.emote ~= nil))
+  U.tap(game, "down")
+  U.wait(30)
+  local engaged = topIsTextBox()
+  U.log("gate dialogue open:", tostring(engaged))
   U.shot(game, DIR .. "/dojo_2_aggro.png")
-  check(engaged, "BUG1: Karate Master aggros on sight")
+  check(engaged, "BUG1: Karate Master stops the player at his left")
 
   ------------------------------------------------------------------
   -- BUG3: talk to the already-beaten master -> "Stay and train..." and
diff --git a/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_gate_bug495_test.lua b/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_gate_bug495_test.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9f245bd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_gate_bug495_test.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+-- Driver: Fighting Dojo Karate Master gate (#495).
+--
+-- Run:
+--   POKEPORT_DRIVER=tests/drivers/fighting_dojo_gate_bug495_test.lua \
+--     POKEPORT_TOUCH=0 POKEPORT_VERSION=yellow love .
+--
+-- The scene starts one tile north of the only trigger tile.  The reported
+-- behaviour is an interaction timing and position question for a human to
+-- observe, not an assertion this driver can decide.
+return function(game)
+  local U = dofile("tests/drivers/util.lua")
+
+  local function check(label, ok)
+    U.log(ok and "PASS" or "FAIL", label)
+    return ok
+  end
+
+  U.teleport(game, "FIGHTING_DOJO", 4, 2, "down")
+  local ow = game.stack:top()
+  local master
+  for _, npc in ipairs(ow.npcs) do
+    if npc.def and npc.def.name == "FIGHTINGDOJO_KARATE_MASTER" then
+      master = npc
+      break
+    end
+  end
+
+  -- Fixture checks only: the room, player, and Master must be in the layout
+  -- that makes the reported tile meaningful.
+  check("Fighting Dojo is loaded", ow.map.id == "FIGHTING_DOJO")
+  check("player starts north of the trigger tile",
+        ow.player.cellX == 4 and ow.player.cellY == 2)
+  check("Karate Master is at (5,3)",
+        master and master.cellX == 5 and master.cellY == 3)
+
+  U.log("Issue #495: Karate Master gate")
+  U.log("Do this: press Down once, onto the tile left of the Master.")
+  U.log("Right: he turns left and starts his challenge on that tile only.")
+  U.log("Wrong: nothing happens here, while standing below him triggers a battle.")
+
+  while true do
+    coroutine.yield()
+  end
+end
diff --git a/tests/parity_fighting_dojo_gate.lua b/tests/parity_fighting_dojo_gate.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52c32564
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/parity_fighting_dojo_gate.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+-- FightingDojoDefaultScript gates the Karate Master at the one tile to his
+-- left.  He is not a regular sight-line trainer (#495).
+
+package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
+if not _G.love then _G.love = require("tests.love_stub") end
+
+local Data = require("src.core.Data")
+if not Data.maps then Data:load() end
+
+local S = require("tests.harness").suite("parity Fighting Dojo gate")
+local check, eq = S.check, S.eq
+local script = require("data.scripts.story4").FIGHTING_DOJO.onStep
+
+local function scene()
+  local master = {
+    def = { name = "FIGHTINGDOJO_KARATE_MASTER" },
+    facing = "down",
+    facePlayer = function(self, player)
+      self.facing = player.cellX < 5 and "left" or "right"
+    end,
+  }
+  local ow = {
+    npcs = { master },
+    player = { cellX = 4, cellY = 3, facing = "down" },
+    trainerDefeated = function() return false end,
+    engageTrainer = function(self, npc) self.engaged = npc end,
+  }
+  return { save = { flags = {} } }, ow, master
+end
+
+local header = Data:trainerHeader("FightingDojo", 1)
+eq(header and header.range, 0,
+   "Karate Master has no generic trainer sight range")
+
+do
+  local game, ow = scene()
+  check(not script(game, ow, 5, 4),
+        "standing below the downward-facing Master does not trigger him")
+  check(ow.engaged == nil, "the below tile does not begin a battle")
+end
+
+do
+  local game, ow, master = scene()
+  check(script(game, ow, 4, 3),
+        "the tile immediately left of the Master triggers his script")
+  eq(ow.engaged, master, "the Master starts the battle")
+  eq(master.facing, "left", "the Master turns toward the player")
+  eq(ow.player.facing, "right", "the player turns toward the Master")
+end
+
+do
+  local game, ow = scene()
+  game.save.flags.EVENT_BEAT_KARATE_MASTER = true
+  check(not script(game, ow, 4, 3),
+        "the gate stays inactive after the Karate Master is beaten")
+end
+
+S.finish()