When I first learned the grab start (in the late 60s I think) we were taught to pull down with our arms at the gun(it was a gun then,not a beep.)Later,I think as a result of what people were doing with their arms in the track start, I was taught to push back with my arms.The idea of pulling down at the start was explained as a way to quickly lower the center of gravity and get in to a more powerful jumping position.My start seems to have been getting slower for some time so I decided to try going back to the old pull down start.For me,it was much faster and I felt more spring off the block.Try it and see for yourself,YMMV.
