Practice your braking. Go to an empty parking lot. Make sure there is not a lot of sand or debris, and try to avoid painted lines. Try using one brake, then both brakes. Decide how many fingers you want on the brake lever.
Most racers use only the first two fingers.
This is when you crack the throttle slightly before each downshift to better match the engine speed with the rear wheel. In my defense, however, it was raining, and about 32 degrees out. When racing, it is necessary to downshift very quickly while braking hard. If you don't blip the throttle, the rear wheel may momentarily lock up, increasing the possibility of losing control. On the street, it is not necessary to blip the throttle in most instances.