If a 'weak' ki blast is unthematic, and the issue is your supposed to Meditate when you can't close but that causes issues with niche content pulls or scenarios where your forced to stay at range for longer than you can meditate, why not just make Forbidden Chakra ranged with a unique animation for if you use it outside of melee? Solves both problems, no new buttons, thematic as heck to charge up a Ki attack while still making monk unique in not having a 'plink' like other melee.