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coventry_eagle-
I don't polo, but I used to run my brakes American style before realising that was wrong. Switched to the proper way round after cycling for thirty years (so I could use the RD and front brake with one hand, not to mention shift and brake with one move on STIs), and my bike handling went to shit.
Then I built this old rat rod thing with a bit of a hipster vibe to it, modern parts on an old frame, left it without a rear brake for a while. That got my neurons wired up right... Realised that I barely need the rear brake, but there was the odd occasion when I really missed it.
It's good to know just how much you can push it regarding the grip on the front tyre.
Kimmo
I'd say the thing you're doing wrong is using your rear brake more than your front. The front should be the first one you go for, and pretty much only use the rear sometimes to tighten your line when cornering, or for the most minor slowing if you have a brake on the back with less advantage, like a single pivot sidepull or a canti adjusted to maximise modulation.
The reason I say this is that your emergency braking reflex should be all about modulating the front brake and balancing your weight on the front tyre; anything else is a distraction from the main game.
I'd even recommend riding without a rear brake for a while.