The invention relates to an optical sensing based impulse testing method and a device. The optical sensing based impulse testing method is characterized by comprising the following steps that: a guide rail is arranged along the tested impulse direction, a mass block capable of moving along the impulse direction is arranged on the guide rail, a linear raster is fixed at the side of the mass block,and a measurement device is arranged on the guide rail to measure a reflection light intensity-time curve of the linear raster, thereby impulse parameters are calculated. In the device, the pulse impulse parameters are measured by optical sensing, so that the anti-electromagnetic interference capability of a testing system is improved; the low-loss characteristics of optical fiber are utilized torealize the long-distance transmission of measurement signals so as to ensure the safety of a light source, an optoelectronic converter and other devices; the device can be applied to explosion and radiation field, and other special occasions, the testing range, resolution and the like can be changed by adjusting the weight of the mass block, the length of the linear raster, a line space and other parameters according to the tested object, and the method is adapted to the measurement requirements of different occasions and different parameters; and a testing probe has a small volume and a compact structure, and is convenient to install and disassemble.