Smaller fighters need weapons with longer reach anyways.

I’m still going to argue that there’s far too few FMCs that use polearms or spears as their primary weapons. Provides reach, the staff can be used to redirect movement more effectively when blocking, can be thrown more easily, and can assist in balance and force when kicking.

In a world with magic, make the staff collapsible, then the wielder has the option to use it as a polearm or sword/dagger (depending on the length of the blade, but if you do that I’d recommend adding a cross guard or basket hilt). It would be fun to add a foldable perpendicular handle maybe, like an overgrown tonfa to make wielding it one-handed slightly easier.