I'll try to help you out here Mike. First off I just want to invite any of the seniors to correct anything I say. I'm just going from what I think is correct but that doesn't mean it is
I always tell my students when someone grabs you, you grab them. That means the attacker has made contact with you and secured you in some fashion. I can not think of a single grab technique where we do not apply a pinning check or a grab to the grabbing hand/arm. So if the attacker grabs you grab them.
For Flashing Swords I have always done this as a punch attack. I encourage my students to examine it for a push as well though. Same technique but the speed of the attack is usually different.
How is Flashing Swords different than Delayed Sword...you could write a couple pages on this topic. I'll just pick what I think is an obvious difference. In DS (Delayed Sword) you step back to a RNB (pin or no pin depends on the situation), R-Inward Block,
RF cats back, R-Front Snap to the groin, plant to a RNB, R-Outward chop. I bolded the section I have an issue with. If they are grabbing they are either pushing or pulling or attempting to manipulate in some fashion. If they are punching you should be mindful of the next move (what if it is a double leg?). In either situation narrowing your base and placing most weight on the back leg is probably not a good idea. Now I know the arguements, the kick will cancel forward momentum, but there you are asking a beginner to be able to solidify, block, cat, then kick before attacker can execute their pre-planned next move (left punch, double leg shot, etc...) Next argument, well I can just graft into another move and take care of all the what-if situations. So you as an instructor are asking a white belt to become proficient in grafting in the very first technique you are teaching?
I know that is a long post but i just wanted to share my 2 cents. Again like I said before please feel free to correct me Mr. Jacob and Mr. Connolly if I have misspoken. Others please don't ask how Flashing Swords compensates for these things or even how to do the technique. If you want to learn that go talk to you area AKKI guy or gal.
Hope that helped Mike,
Tim Kulp
Westminster, MD