So.... I'm not sure how much your milage will go with a monk with the one handed flaw. What you say is true, if you have ANYTHING in your hands, shield, weapon, Watch, potion, etc.... Avoid won't work.
Every monk I've played I've almost always used weapon/shield until you get to Intensify for PK, Max out avoid in ranking, and Transcend, but for PK, you will be better off with Shield and Weapon with shieldblock and parry perfected(You should do this and all your weapons anyway). YOu can try at 25 when you get Respond, because that will be your go-to open when fighting everyone but Assassins, and HtH specs.
Would be itneresting to see how you do though. If you don't plan on PK'ing until 30's I'd like to know how your Intensify goes....