Check out the Combat Focus line in PHBII. It's nothing grand, but you can gain things like fast healing, blindsight, and bonuses VS maneuvers. Combat Defense is rather underwhelming, but the immediate-action speed change of your Dodge target lets you apply the miss chance from the Words Given Form martial art to whoever is attacking you. Words Given Form is normally not worth it, but you are probably picking up Combat Expertise, the Spring Attack line, and IUS anyway.