[quote=@Lugubrious]
Yeah, sure, he or she could bonk people with their staves.  They're not going to be very effective fighters, though.
[/quote]

No I mean can I have a Monk or Cleric actually trained in using a stave as a weapon. In medieval times it would not be particularly uncommon for monks to practice martial arts and fighting with a quarter staff or a bo staff is an extension of that. Monasteries traditionally would be separate from towns or cities and often enough they would have valuable texts or religious artifacts contained within them. Since the ruler of a country didn't dispatch soldiers to defend there monasteries the monks would need another way to keep wandering brigands and thieves out. A number of martial arts, especially the ones that would be practiced by pacifists stipulate that the best fought battle is won without fighting. Actually using there martial arts skills would be a last resort in any situation. However the knowledge that a monk could kick your ass six ways till Thursday kept most people from raiding monasteries. Of course they wouldn't be able to stand up to professional armies or well organized groups and not all the monks would know these skills but at least some of them would be able to fight with a decent amount of precision.

Could I have a character of that kind of caliber? Of course because of the immense value placed in his healing powers he wouldn't be on the front lines and as stated fighting for him would be more of a last resort. I'm not wanting like a ninja monk but I'd like a healer that when push comes to shove could defend themselves if absolutely necessary.