Re: forms of accessible martial arts?
Aikido, like any mature martial art contains every element of combat, though some of them are more hidden than others. Reacting to strikes is a part of the core curriculum, but there are many ways to skin this cat for someone with little or no vision. For instance, in the beginning your partner could begin in contact with you, so that it's easier to learn to feel the timing and location of the strike. Or, your partner could signal with breath or another noise that he/she is coming to attack. As you progress, you will likely discover that you learn to sense the attack with a combination of hearing and something that's difficult to describe for someone who's not had the experience of training without vision. You will also learn to know where your partner/opponent is and to move in ways to limit the location and timing of attacks, even strikes. At advanced levels, you will confront multiple opponents attacking freely and be expected, through movement and awareness to deflect, slip and blend with each attack or to move so that opponents get in one another's way.
As for grappling, the kata in Aikido, or the basic forms do not show it in detail. In principle you should never be seeking a strength v. strength contest as an aikidoka, but moving to take your opponent off balance, either by extending the attack beyond the point of balance, or undermining his stance. Aikido does contain very effective pinning techniques that will work in many situations. It also contains throws, though the one described in the previous post is usually classified as a control, rather than a throw, since you generally stay in contact with your partner and move to a pinning position.
Here's one thing to consider. Aikido is a martial art. Brazilian Jujitsu is a sport with martial arts-like characteristics. They are not directly comparable. BJJ has a different wheelhouse so to speak, concentrating on traditional grappling and ground-fighting. In some situations, it is devastatingly effective, as the string of BJJ champions in UFC championships showed, but it's important to remember that these were sporting contests. It is of course possible that BJJ can be taught with a philosophical layer. In Aikido, the philosophy is baked into the very movements and if the teacher is worth his/her salt, you are getting it right from the beginning.
Please assure your dad that it is possible to train safely and effectively in Aikido without vision, at least if the school and teacher are worth while. Any teacher who does not look on teaching you as a challenge is not worth having. I won't go so far as to say that Aikido is better than BJJ, because that's a meaningless statement without knowing what you are seeking out of training?
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