Contrary to Kremeth's prediction, Max learnt physical block skill 10 days faster than expected.
Blocking was very simple, in theory to stop an object in motion one only needed to apply an equal and opposite force to the object to nullify its motion.
It was basically a matter of pure strength, had Max been tier3 or stronger, he could have blocked the boulder with his eyes closed, but this is exactly where skills came into play.
Max figured out that when instead of stopping the rock with rigidity he used a fluid motion of pulling his hands back along with the force of the rock, the load on his bones became considerably lower.
Initially Max was trying to stop the rock with brute force, this made it so that all the pressure was being channelled through the bones in his arms which were as a result crumpling under the strength of the boulder.