Skills are listed by the time you have access to them, not
by their actual level.

In short, take the Thug path until you get 'parting block', then
follow up with binder as far as you can go. By level 30, you will
be pretty lethal.

lvl 12: push

lvl 14: knife

lvl 17: cheap shot

lvl 21: weaponbutt blackjack

lvl 26: parting block
nimble fingers
blackjack
bind legs
precision strike

lvl 30: gag

lvl 35: blindfold

lvl 40: bindhands