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Wolfgang Friedrich Heindel (born September 5. 1980 in Rosenheim ) is a german martial artist, instructor and JJIF world champion 2004.

Heindel currently runs his own grappling academy in Herzogenaurach Germany.

Background
Heindel grew up in Weißenburg, Bavaria where he achieved the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur). Afterwards he studied Business Administration at the Distance-Learning University in Hagen. He is married and has 4 children.

Fighting Ju-jitsu
Wolfgang Heindel started with Judo at the FC/DJK Weißenburg in 1986 but switched to Fighting Ju-jitsu in 1995. He won the German Youth Championship 1998 and went on to be recruited into the German National Team (DJJV). While on mandatory military service in 2000 he was called upon to join the Sports Promotion Section of the Bundeswehr and remained active there until 2003 in collaboration with the DJJV. in 2001 his first national championship in adult category. This qualified him to compete at the European Championship 2001, where he finished in 5th place.

In 2002 he won the silver medal at the JJIF World Championship in Punto del Este. Two years later he won 1st place in Madrid.

Shortly after gaining the title of World Champion he ended his career in the German National Team, but managed to win the 2005 German Nationals competition again, two weight divisions higher (-85kg).

Additionally Heindel was state coach of Bavaria for different age groups within the JJVB from 2003 until 2018.

Judo
Heindel was part of the Post SV Bamberg in the second judo federal league from 2005 until 2006. Between 2007 and 2012 he was active in the TV 1848 Erlangen as well and helped them as coach as well as competitor to climb to the second judo federal league.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Wolfgang first came into contact with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during a stay in Rio de Janeiro in 2002. As an additional specialized training for his Fighting Ju-jitsu career he also started to practice there. This was followed by a training stay in Brazil in 2006, where he also took part in competitions. When the Ju-Jitsu International Federation decided to expand its sports program to include this discipline, he was reappointed to the national team in 2010. At the World Championship debut of the discipline Ne-Waza (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) in Cali, Colombia, Heindel won the silver medal in the -85 kg category. In 2012 he competed at the World Championships in Vienna, but dropped out early after he got defeated in the preliminary round against the later champion. One year later he was able to win a bronze medal at the European Championships in Lisbon with another major association of the IBJJF.

He was awarded his blackbelt by Aldo "Caveirinha" Januario in 2014 and the IBJJF as well as the UAEJJF confirmed him as a certified 2nd degree blackbelt in 2020.