To　protect　structures　from　short　duration　shock　load　in　various　engineering　applications,　a　novel　energy　conversion　mechanism　with　concept　design　is　proposed.　Different　from　conventional　methods　with　cellular　solid/structure　dissipating　input　translational　kinetic　energy　to　plastic　strain　energy　with　large　compressive　deformation,　the　proposed　approach　converts　part　of　incident　translational　kinetic　energy　to　rotational　kinetic　energy,　which　is　not　detrimental　to　the　protected　structure.　The　mechanism　of　energy　conversion　is　analyzed　and　formulated,　with　key　factors　governing　the　conversion　efficiency　identified　and　discussed,　which　sheds　light　on　alternative　approach　for　short　duration　load　mitigation.