Practical Low Kicks

First of all, why low instead of high? Since high ones are much more devastating... when it lands.

Here I list the advantages of low kicks over a high one.

• Fast - a low kick will definitely be faster to execute than a high one. One because of the distance required for the leg to travel, and two because there are less movement involved. In a high kick, you would generally need to lift your leg up before you can strike. For a low kick, the lifting motion is the strike motion.
  

• Harder to see - in the event of a real fight, a low kick is not easy to spot. Your eyes are so far from the area of attack that to spot you would have to be further away from the opponent, which doesn't happen a lot in an attack. This is especially true on low lighting areas like an alley or street at night. Even when spotting the kick, such fast attack is extremely difficult to block.
  

• Close quarters - low kick is extremely useful for close quarters combat, not only for the reasons mentioned above, but also regarding yourself. Imagine wearing tight jeans, or heavy boots. The weight and the clothing restriction would most probably prevent your movements already. But in this situation, your boot would now become a weapon, for example using the hard steel toes to strike the attacker's shin.

• Easy to strike - It's easy to kick low. Not many people can kick well, but a drive to the groin or stomp on the feet is as easy as it gets.
  

A few strike points that are effective are the shins, inner thigh, foot and groin. With heavy shoes, a strike to the shins with the side of the foot can send the attacker screaming in pain. A good knee to the groin would probably end the fight fairly quickly.

Basically this is a very brief post on the advantages of low kick in certain situation, and an alternative to using your hands all the time.