A board holding device for practicing a martial art and its associated method of use. The optical eye-contact element may be a so-called applanation plate or applanation lens. A cam face can include a first cam face for connecting the clutch through the linear motion of the operating member. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The larger sized colored particles have a different color and a larger particle size than the colored particles, are disposed so that the colored particles are able to pass through the separation, have charge characteristics or magnetic properties which are different from those of the colored particles, and are able to move. The apparatus further includes at least one slide frame actuator for causing sliding movement of the slide frame, and at least one dump frame actuator for causing pivotal movement of the dump frame.