This build uses the Monk (SRD), the Psionic Fist (SRD) and the Psychic Warrior (SRD), as well as the Fighter, Ranger and Psion classes (SRD), as well as the Drunken Master, Dervish and Warshaper prestige classes from Complete Warrior.
See here for a discussion of the pros and cons of the various racial options. Racial options are many, but humans, perhaps surprisingly, hold their own. The 3.0E progression, which takes levels of the Shintao Monk prestige class, requires Lawful Good alignment. The old progression will be remain as a variant for those who continue to use Oriental Adventures in their games. This page has now been updated with a 3.5E-kosher Ultimate Monk. It is an excellent resource for monk characters, and a fine book in general. Note that the 3.0E progression given below uses many rules and prestige classes from Oriental Adventures, which is considered a 3.0E sourcebook.Magic of Eberron (Power Link Quori Shards), Races of Eberron (changeling 41, Racial Emulation 110), Eberron Campaign Setting (Shifter, Changeling, and Kalashtar races Quori Shards (Ectoplasmic Fist, Ectoplasmic Armor)), Draconomicon (initiate of the draconic mysteries 131), Dragon Magic ( fanged ring 101), Faiths of Eberron Races of Eberron (changeling 41, Racial Emulation 110), Races of the Dragon ( greater mighty wallop 115, mighty wallop 114), Tome of Battle (Superior Unarmed Strike 33, Snap Kick 51), Races of Destiny (Mongrelfolk), Complete Psionic (Practiced Manifester feat), Secrets of Sarlona.
Player's Handbook (3.5e), Player's Handbook II, Oriental Adventures (3.0E progression only*), Unearthed Arcana (fractional BAB advancement, Bloodlines, Monk fighting styles, traits and flaws), Expanded Psionics Handbook (Psychic Warrior, Elocater, feats and powers), Dragon magazine (Beast Strike feat, other feats) (cited only as alternative selections in game where Dragon Magazine rules are used) and Savage Species (monster class rules, anthropomorphic animals). While all variations are optimized in the sense that class levels, feat and other characteristics have been carefully selected to maximize power, survivability, and player options, roleplaying notes (including guidelines for emulating legendary martial arts feats) and an optional campaign "backstory" (the Monks of the Fivefold Path) are also included. The universal thread running through all of them is a Monk/Psionic Fist combination that leads to extremely high unarmed damage, great speed, and feats and class abilities (most crucially, the Psionic Fist's psionic abilities) that give the monk great flexibility in combat. There are several variants of the Ultimate Monk presented here. Properly optimized, an unarmed monk can overpower a barbarian, out-maneuver a rogue, provide his own buffs, and do more than hundred points of damage four to five times a round.