Update from Japan: K-1 World Max and discussion point

[fugetsu]

A quick update from Japan and a point for discussion:
On July 5th, the K-1 World Max took place,
K-1's 70 kilo tournament.
The Japanese fighter Masato won, knocking out not only
last years champion--Albert Kraus, but the current middle weight
Rajarndamnern (sp?) champion--Saggedao Gyattoputon (sp?)--as well.
America's Ludwick KO'd the former Raja champ. Takeda Kozo in the second round of their bout. A shock to the kickboxing world in Japan.
At any rate, Masato won. While using knees and effective low kicks, he finished most of his opponets off with very sharp boxing skills.

Masato is a controversial character in the kickboxing world in Japan because he is "free," that is he doesn't belong to any gym, he is his own "tea.," So, he doesn't "belong" to any gym. He has his own Thai trainer, a famous fighter--Nuatorani (sp?), he has his own weight-lifting personal trainer, and he has his own personal boxing trainer as well.
The question for discussion is the need for crossing training.
(of course, Ajarn Chai trains us in western boxing himself, has Professor Trigg train us in western boxing at the Oregon camp, and my Khun-Kru Mike Walrath--one of Ajarn's earliest students--taught a boxing only class twice a week at his old location)
To be competitive in Muay Thai, is crossing-training necessary? If so, what does it mean for both fighters and instructors?

[OutOfAlignMent]

Yes, I think cross training, especially in boxing, is important for people fighting in K-1 type events. I say that, becuase of my knowledge of MT scoring in Thailand is that, knees, elbows and kicks are counted higher, not sure how its scored in Europe, though.

But in K-1 everything pretty much counts from what I understand. boxing , kicking, elbows, knees are all weighted the same as far as scoring goes. And it is my belief that a MT stylest with supierior hand skills will have the advantage. I am not discoutning knees and elbows at all, but in K-1 elbows aren't allowed right? And knees are only allowed to the body. So Kicking and Hands are goning to be your primary weapons. I belive good hands are probably the best tool for K-1. Cross training in boxing is a must. Again, if your fighting in Thailand, well then knees/elbows/kicking is what you should concentrate on.