I used a Crusader with Superior Unarmed Strike (SUS), though Warblade into Bloodstorm Blade is probably the better option if you want to chuck shield. Tome of Battle has the tools for the task, regardless of which class you feel like using. As a feat SUS lets you do tolerable unarmed damage on any character, so you don't have to play a martial adept if you don't want to. You also only need a single level of Warblade to get into Bloodstorm Blade for the shield tossing fun (and 4 levels of that to full attack with a shield), so you can tack that on to any other punchy build too.
Pathfinder has a
Brawler Archetype custom made for the role, if you ever play that system.
