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The Holygrab.

The first time I ever saw anyone do a Holy Grab was during practice for the Kansas City IFMA in December 2003. Bryan Dowdy had recently started doing them (and as far as I know he was the first to ever do them). They were gigantic. Dowdy made it look like he was ditching the bike, only to grab back on at the last second and pull himself back on. A few months later I was at a demo with fellow rider Kyle Lovelace. Out of nowhere, he threw a Holygrab and I was amazed. Not to downplay Kyle's riding, but I thought to myself, "how hard can they be?"

Another month or so later I was working on my double grabs. At that point, I always walked-on to my double grabs (going on hand at a time), and I wanted to change that. While practicing one afternoon I focused on bringing my hands off the handlebars at the same time while pushing off for my double grab. I did this very small and in VERY tiny baby steps. I soon found that as I popped off and pushed myself away from the bars (to drift back towards my grab holes) it would be easy for my to open my arms up and sort of launch off the bike for a second before I grabbed the grab holes. This was the moment I began to focus on my Holygrab.

Overall, I never had the biggest Holygrabs, but I always loved to do them. They are an extremely fun trick, and even the smallest Holygrabs look really cool.

STEP BY STEP

When I come off the ramp, I'm nuetral just like any other trick. If you're not already used to the feeling of being centered on the bike in the "attack position" when coming off the ramp, you're not ready for the holy grab.

Only a couple feet off the ramp, my arms are already starting to come off the bars, and my feet are already bouncing off the pegs, as the motion I'm going through is VERY similar to a double grab without walking on.

Now here's where the holy grab is unique, and unlike a double grab. I'm bouncing off the bike, on my way to the grab-holes, but right here as I get my arms off the bars, I spread my arms as wide as I can.

As soon as I am through with the arms, I immediately grab my grab holes. I am well-practiced, and I'm comfortable with where they're located.

Because I popped so hard off of the footpegs, I had enough momentum that when I grabbed, my body was already going upwards very quickly, and all I had to to was extend my arms to follow the motion of my body. Presto! That's a holygrab/double grab hart attack.

Coming back on is JUST LIKE coming back off of a double grab, which you should already know by now. Just give both arms a slight tug and allow your lower body to follow your shoulders. Relax and be patient as your body drifts back to the bike.

My feet are almost back to the pegs here, so I've let go of the grab holes in order to reach back for the handlebars. Stay focused here, or a hand could miss the bars.

Once I'm back on the bike, I just prepare my legs and arms for the landing, and try to stay loose.

When I come off the ramp, I'm nuetral just like any other trick. If you're not already used to the feeling of being centered on the bike in the "attack position" when coming off the ramp, you're not ready for the holy grab.	Only a couple feet off the ramp, my arms are already starting to come off the bars, and my feet are already bouncing off the pegs, as the motion I'm going through is VERY similar to a double grab without walking on.
Now here's where the holy grab is unique, and unlike a double grab. I'm bouncing off the bike, on my way to the grab-holes, but right here as I get my arms off the bars, I spread my arms as wide as I can.	As soon as I am through with the arms, I immediately grab my grab holes. I am well-practiced, and I'm comfortable with where they're located.
Because I popped so hard off of the footpegs, I had enough momentum that when I grabbed, my body was already going upwards very quickly, and all I had to to was extend my arms to follow the motion of my body. Presto! That's a holygrab/double grab hart attack.	Coming back on is JUST LIKE coming back off of a double grab, which you should already know by now. Just give both arms a slight tug and allow your lower body to follow your shoulders. Relax and be patient as your body drifts back to the bike.
My feet are almost back to the pegs here, so I've let go of the grab holes in order to reach back for the handlebars. Stay focused here, or a hand could miss the bars.	Once I'm back on the bike, I just prepare my legs and arms for the landing, and try to stay loose.