It is too bad that there is no singular word that captures a universal, nondenominational, non-culture-specific mystical martial artist. Below are words that have been suggested to represent the mystical/spiritual martial artist.
- Monk: Because of D&D, it has the most history, and other games have adopted this nomenclature too. TTRPG players do know what this means. But the world does have more than one definition (Western and Eastern, if nothing else), can be problematic, so we're considering other names.
- Warrior Monk: This could to the job, however it seems there is a secret rule where core classes need to have 1-word English names.
- Incarnate: I really, really like Incarnate. But it has some baggage with Incarnum from 3E, which is soul/spirit substance. Can it be reclaimed?
- Adept: This word essentially means "expert" (not fighter, and not spiritual/mystical, necessarily) and is already used for a variety of themes in D&D. Attempts to use it (like in Level Up) are attempts to redefine it. I don't care for it, personally.
- Martial Artist: This captures the vision of a variety of martial artists and could be awesome, but it doesn't specifically capture the mystical stuff of the class. Unfortunately, as I mentioned previously, it seems core classes need to be 1-word names.
- Martial Adept: It helps define "Adept" from above, but also see "Martial Artist" above.
- Mystic: This could work, and it has been used in the past, however it has also been used for psionics. But also, Monks in 4E were of the Psionic power source. Could the monk be a psionic martial artist (build similarly to the 2014 Warlock) with martial arts instead of a Blade Pact, and Mystic Maneuvers instead of Invocations and Mystic Arcanum? Nahhh, that's be crazy. << >>
- Ascetic: This word is defined as "characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. So, no drunken masters here. Also, it doesn't capture a warrior theme.
- Disciple: Specifically a student, not a teacher, and it doesn't capture a warrior theme. Usually it needs another word to help define what kind of "disciple" it is, like "Dragon Disciple."
- Pugilist: A generic fist fighter that does not capture the spirituality of the class. Sounds like a Fighter subclass.
- Brawler: See Pugilist above.
- Sōhei: This literally translates to Warrior Monk. But it isn't an English word and is specific to an existing culture. But if Samurai is allowed, why not Sōhei?
- Gish: Fighter/mages of a Githyanki tradition. Not unarmed combatants, and not the kind of spiritual feel of the class.
- Zerth: Psionic monks of the Githzerai tradition. Can the word be reclaimed by the core class?
- Spirit Warrior: Sounds like a ghost that could be in a Monster Manual.
Sometimes I feel that if the Monk's class name needs to change, they should just invent a new word. But the made-up names I could scrape up aren't any better.
- Mystic Fist
- Soulmonk
- Soulfist
- Incarnus
- Disciplar
- Moncarnate
- Handcatcher
- Kickpuncher