I've played through Jade Empire twice, the first time with Wu the Lotus Blossom (specializing in the staff), the second time with Lu the Prodigy (specializing in dual blades). I think I only found it easier the second time because I was already familiar with the controls; I used the mouse and keyboard both times.
I found some of the boss battles (particularly near the end) MUCH easier if I pumped XP into the Frog Demon Transformation style and used it for the first couple attacks before switching to something like Tiger Claws to shred the enemy.
In the end, I think a lot of the various melee styles are fairly equivalent and break down to personal preference. The only one that really gave me difficulty (though it is fun to watch) is Drunken Master because you have to constantly replenish your alcohol while you're fighting and to me it was just easier to stay right up on the bad guys and kick their butts.
Most of the time, I stuck with keeping Dawn Star or Silk Fox as my companion. Dawn Star's support mode is very useful for keeping your various energy levels from bottoming-out during prolonged fights.
Be sure to talk to all of your companions several times during each segment of the game. They all have various side quests you can complete and there's a variety of romance options for male and female characters (at least two for each).
