The first bike I ever bought was a single-speed. With a SS, I could "free wheel" or coast. But I quickly converted it to a fixed gear, where my pedals were directly connected to my rear tire. At first, I left the front and rear caliper brakes on. From there I taught myself how to skid the rear tire to stop instead of pull the rear brake.
Skidding took a lot of practice. But once I got it, it was amazing. I can still remember the the parking lot I was in when I laid down by the first real buttery skid. From that point, I was ready to remove the rear brake completely and keep skidding!
I rode that like for many years. I loved the speedy riding style and the simplicity of the bike. While I don't ride fixed anymore, I am so glad I learned. It taught me so much about bike handling. I'm a better cyclist now because of it.