Certainly, there is a brief learning curve. I think a smart way of doing it it to find a nice, flat, empty street and ride down it first slowly and apply the brake and then lap after lap increase your speed and get a feel for how the brake works. At some point you will lift your rear wheel off the ground a bit. You will have found the limits of safe braking. Take it easy, don't run too fast too quickly and you'll get it without incident.
Additional piece of advice - buy the best brake and lever your wallet can handle. No need to go boutique but stop by your LBS and ask which road brake has the best stopping power. You said you own a track bike so I could be erroneously assuming fork is drilled for a brake.