Meakashi said: Why wouldn't they work? Dual Swords are short as well and they are (currently) my preferred weapons.
Just make those using knuckles jump around like hell and it'll work out.
Dual swords have fluidity of motion. I mean, I see where you're coming from, but I think Kenshiro fists are just a little out of place.
Though if I guess if they ever wanted to make a quick, short range knock-out weapon. They could take out rolls like with switch axes to keep them from feeling too much like shield and swords and dual swords.