The Body Control Training Center opens its doors: “Exercise, but also make friends” (Brecht)

Dominique Deketelaere can finally open his training center. – © Elke Lamens

Brecht –

At the start of the new year, you can find Dominique Deketelaere (29) full-time personal trainer at his very own Body Control Training Centre. This police inspector wants to get everyone moving and dream of his own fitness.

Monday January 10 2022 at 15:33

Until the end of last year, you can find Deketelaere at the shooting range where officers teach to safely handle a firearm as a firearms force specialist. “I like to teach, I like to teach people something,” he admits. Now he gives himself eight months to realize his dream. “I’ve saved enough time off to turn my passion into my profession.”

The new training center is fully equipped for strength training. – © Elke Lamens

Dominique Deketelaere graduated from Artesis Hogeschool in 2014 with a BA in Physical Education and Recreational Exercise, majoring in Fitness and Personal Training. “In addition, until 2016, I practiced various martial arts such as jiu-jitsu, judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, and participated in international competitions. I also taught in clubs.” In September 2019, personal training began as a secondary profession to help athletes improve or help non-athletes build a healthy lifestyle.

Training center

He now wants to make it his main occupation, but due to the pandemic with various lockdowns, that has become a bumpy road. “We couldn’t do anything for about a year. In the summer of 2020, I organized training sessions with small groups in the municipal park. It was rowing with my oars, but it was a success.”

Dominic can now also give group lessons on an area of 250 square metres. – © Elke Lamens

It definitely tasted more, and when a few sheds of the houses on the Vaartstraat in the center became available, he took the opportunity to set up a training center there. We had to wait for a real opening for the aura gauges to allow it again. “The space is now six times larger, from 40 to 250 square metres. I can now offer group lessons as well as personal training at home.”

With body control, Deketelaere doesn’t just want to get people to exercise. “You can also make friends through sports. Every two months we also organize an event, a full day of sports on a certain topic. Everyone should feel at home here, I coach people from 17 to 60 here. Most of them come from Brecht and the region surroundings, but I am already training people from Mechelen and Basel through word of mouth.”

This way Dominic takes another step closer to his dream. “I’ve dreamed of opening my own fitness center since I was eighteen.” This plan is not only out of the blue, because he already has the permit in his pocket. “A new building will be built at the corner of Nollekensweg and De Biest where I can set up a fitness room. However, the project has been halted due to the pandemic. In the meantime, I already have more space here for people training and for extending body control.”

He is assisted by Elaine Dryers, a BA in physical therapy and nutrition coach, and his wife and trainer, Carly Van Eckelpoel, who is also in charge of management. Body Control offers an introductory package for five group lessons for only €25.