Japanese karate expert, 63, wins fight with angry bear by using his black belt skills
Atsushi Aoki escaped with his life - with just bite and claw marks on his body, head and arms after scary scrap
A KARATE expert aged 63 has miraculously survived an unprovoked attack from a grizzly bear.
Atsushi Aoki was set upon by the beast - who stood at 6ft 2ins tall on its hind legs - while fishing in the mountains of the Gunma Prefecture region.
He says he managed to win the fight by using his skills in martial arts - before punching the bear between the eyes.
Describing the moment he fought off the animal with his bare hands, Mr Aoki told The Straits Times:
"It came pouncing towards me when my eyes met the bear's.
I managed to trick the bear, poked it in the eyes and it ran away.
Atsushi Aoki
"Its rounded ears were perfectly circular just like a teddy bear's and its face was so huge.
"The bear had such, such great strength.
"I was knocked over when it leapt at me.
"It scratched me and bit me.
"But in the end I managed to trick the bear, poked it in the eyes and it ran away."
The 63-year-old looked like he was going to be beaten by the bear at one point when he was knocked to the floor by the huge animal.
But he quickly picked himself up and threw a fierce punch - before the bear gave up and ran away.
After the attack, Mr Aoki went to a nearby hospital in Naganohara town where he was treated for minor injuries.
Despite being in a fight with the wild beast, he escaped with just bite and claw marks on the right side of his upper body, head and arms, and an injury to his leg.
Gunma police officials advised those who come across beats in future not to copy Mr Aoki.
"If you witness a bear, don't fight. Walk away quietly and report it to the police instead," an official told The Japan Times.
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